82R8782 JXC-D
By: Miles H.B. No. 2995
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an exemption for urban farms from payment for
wastewater service.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 13, Water Code, is amended
by adding Section 13.148 to read as follows:
Sec. 13.148. URBAN FARM WASTEWATER FEE EXEMPTION. (a) In
this section:
(1) "Community garden" means land gardened by a
cooperative group of people residing in a neighborhood or community
for the purpose of providing fresh produce for the benefit of the
residents of the neighborhood or community.
(2) "Urban farm" means land used to cultivate,
process, and distribute food in or near an urban area. The term
includes a food plot in a community garden, on an inner-city lot, or
on the property of a school, a fish farm, a municipal composting
facility, an apiary, a garden that provides food for local
restaurants, or an orchard in the yard of a residence.
(b) Notwithstanding another provision of this chapter, a
retail public utility may not receive compensation for wastewater
service provided to an owner or operator of an urban farm and used
by the owner or operator for purposes of the farm.
(c) The commission may develop standards to determine
whether a farm or garden qualifies as an urban farm or community
garden under this section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.