81R7249 TJS-D
By: Mallory Caraway H.B. No. 1227
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a grace period from the statement issue date for payment
of services to gas utilities and municipally owned utilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 104, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 104.259 to read as follows:
Sec. 104.259. PERIOD FOR PAYMENT OF GAS SERVICES. (a) A
gas utility or municipally owned utility providing service to a
retail customer may not disconnect service or pursue any other
collections options for nonpayment of a balance due before the 30th
day after the date on which the statement is issued.
(b) To the extent of any conflict between this section and
other law, including Subchapter A, Chapter 182, this section
controls.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act does not
affect the rights of a gas utility or municipally owned utility to
disconnect service or pursue another collections option in a manner
provided by a contract with a retail customer that was entered into
or renewed before the effective date of this Act. The rights of a
gas utility or municipally owned utility under a contract for gas
services entered into or renewed before the effective date of this
Act are governed by the law as it existed on the date the contract
was entered into or renewed, and that law is continued in effect for
that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.