Alabama Senate Bill SB179

Alabama 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/5/23
• Refer: 4/5/23

Caption

Relating to municipal water works boards; to require certain municipal water works boards to provide customer data regarding sewer service at the request of a county commission that provides sewer service in certain circumstances and provide mechanisms to determine the fees a board could charge in exchange for the data; to require certain municipal water works boards to provide billing and collection services for sewer service at the request of a county commission that provides the sewer service and provide mechanisms to determine the fees a board could charge in exchange for billing and collection services; to require certain municipal water works boards to shut off water service for nonpayment of sewer service at the request of a county commission providing the sewer service and provide mechanisms to determine the fees a board could charge for the shut off service; and to provide legal mechanisms for a county commission to pursue in the event that a municipal water works board fails to abide by the requirements of this act.

Impact

The bill imposes significant requirements on municipal water works boards, particularly those operating across multiple counties as of January 1, 2015. They are expected to deliver comprehensive billing and collection services for sewer services at the behest of a county commission. It also introduces legal frameworks that could facilitate enforcement should the boards fail to comply with the new requirements. This initiative aims to streamline processes, reduce bureaucratic delays in municipal services, and improve collections while ensuring that the financial burdens incurred by boards are appropriately compensated.

Summary

SB179 is legislation introduced by Senator Coleman-Madison aimed at redefining the responsibilities of municipal water works boards in relation to county commissions that provide sewer services. It mandates that these boards provide customer data relevant to sewer services upon request from the county commission. This customer data includes critical information such as account names, addresses, and historical usage data. The bill establishes mechanisms for determining fees that the boards can charge for these data requests and related services, promoting transparency and accountability in the management of municipal resources.

Contention

Concerns surrounding SB179 focus mainly on the balance of power between county commissions and water works boards. There may be arguments regarding the extent of control that county commissions should have over municipal operations and whether this could lead to financial strain on boards that need to navigate the additional administrative workload. Additionally, the requirement for boards to shut off water service for nonpayment of sewer charges at the commission's request raises ethical concerns regarding service continuity and the impacts on vulnerable populations who may struggle with overdue bills.