Mississippi House Bill HB517

Mississippi 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/6/22
• Refer: 1/6/22
• Failed: 2/1/22

Caption

Municipalities; extend repealer on authority to create program addressing delinquent customer water bills.

Impact

The proposed bill retains provisions that enable municipalities to adopt rules and procedures for managing disputed claims. Notably, these rules can consider a customer's financial capacity to pay the full amount owed. The intent is to provide municipalities with the flexibility to compromise on claims that are doubted due to legitimate reasons such as billing failures or extreme weather events. By allowing installment plans and adjustments for uncollectible debts, the bill aims to create a more manageable system for both the municipalities and their customers.

Summary

House Bill 517 is an act aimed at amending Section 21-27-77 of the Mississippi Code of 1972. This amendment seeks to extend the date of the repealer on the statute that grants municipalities with a population of 150,000 or more the authority to establish programs addressing disputed and delinquent water and sewer customer accounts. By extending this authority, the bill allows these municipalities to continue utilizing specific programs that manage customer accounts deemed problematic due to errors or unforeseen circumstances.

Conclusion

Ultimately, HB 517 aims to continue enabling large municipalities in Mississippi to address customer disputes and delinquent accounts effectively. Through extensions of their authority, the bill seeks to enhance financial management and customer service while attempting to balance the needs of residents with the fiscal realities faced by the municipalities.

Contention

While the bill primarily extends existing authority, there could be some contention concerning how it manages customer accounts and the financial implications for municipalities. Some lawmakers may argue that such flexibility could lead to an inconsistent handling of accounts or that it could impose undue burdens on municipal budgets. Critics might express concerns about the transparency and efficacy of the programs, especially regarding how they may be affected by repeated billing failures and customer service issues. However, the bill is designed to ensure municipalities remain accountable by mandating reporting on revenue collection and the effectiveness of the payment plans.