81R9511 TRH-F
By: Maldonado H.B. No. 2807
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the water pressure standards for fire hydrants in
certain municipalities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 341.0357(b), (c), (d), (e), and (f),
Health and Safety Code, as added by Chapter 861 (H.B. 1391), Acts of
the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, are amended to read as
follows:
(b) The regulatory authority for a public utility shall by
rule or ordinance adopt standards for maintaining sufficient water
pressure for service to fire hydrants adequate to protect public
safety in residential areas in a municipality with a population of
10,000 [1,000,000] or more.
(c) The commission shall assess residential areas in a
municipality with a population of 10,000 [1,000,000] or more to
ensure that:
(1) the regulatory authority for the area has adopted
the standards required by this section; and
(2) all public utilities serving the residential area
are complying with the standards required by this section.
(d) The commission shall require a municipality with a
population of 10,000 [1,000,000] or more and acting as a regulatory
authority to make appropriate revisions to standards the commission
considers to be inadequate within a reasonable time established by
the commission.
(e) The commission shall require a public utility in
violation of a standard required under this section and established
by the commission or by a municipality with a population of 10,000
[1,000,000] or more and acting as a regulatory authority to comply
with the standard within a reasonable time established by the
commission.
(f) This section does not limit the authority of a
municipality with a population of 10,000 [1,000,000] or more and
acting as a regulatory authority to prohibit a public utility in
violation of a standard established by the municipality from
recovering through the public utility's rates a penalty or fine
incurred for a violation of a standard.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.