Texas House Bill HB3663

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Caption

Relating to the temporary continuation of utility service for real property of a decedent.

Impact

Under this bill, utility companies are required to continue servicing the property for up to 90 days, as long as they receive a request along with a copy of the decedent's death certificate. During this period, providers cannot impose penalties or fees related to nonpayment, which relieves some financial pressure from the next of kin. Importantly, costs incurred during this period will be liabilities of the decedent's estate, not the next of kin, which shifts the financial responsibility appropriately in line with the deceased's obligations.

Summary

House Bill 3663 addresses the temporary continuation of utility services for the real property of a decedent. The bill allows a decedent's next of kin to submit a request to the utility service provider to maintain services for a specified period following the decedent's death. This provision aims to facilitate the management of utilities during the transition period as the estate is being sorted out, thus helping to maintain a level of stability for the household while arrangements are made.

Contention

Although the bill seems beneficial for bereaved families, there could be potential concerns regarding the implementation and processes involved in determining who qualifies as 'next of kin' and how requests must be verified. There may also be questions regarding how utility companies will manage the transition of services practically and whether there will be administrative burdens for complying with this requirement.

Effective_date

The changes stipulated by this Act apply specifically to utility services for decedents who die on or after its effective date, which is September 1, 2015. This ensures that the bill is forward-looking, addressing the needs of future instances of decedents while providing clarity and structure to service provision during a sensitive time for families.