Texas 2023 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4106 Analysis / Analysis

Filed 05/01/2023

                    BILL ANALYSIS             H.B. 4106     By: Dean     Natural Resources     Committee Report (Unamended)             BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE    There is a need to simplify the complaint process in regard to water and wastewater services at the Public Utility Commission of Texas. H.B. 4106 seeks to provide for a procedure to resolve a complaint by a tenant against an owner about a bill for water or wastewater service.        CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT   It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.       RULEMAKING AUTHORITY    It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Public Utility Commission of Texas in SECTION 1 of this bill.       ANALYSIS    H.B. 4106 amends the Water Code to authorize the Public Utility Commission of Texas by rule to adopt a simplified procedure to resolve a complaint by a tenant against an owner about a bill for water or wastewater service brought under statutory provisions relating to restitution, submetering rules, or nonsubmetering rules, with respect to apartments, manufactured home rental communities, and other multiple use facilities. The bill establishes that the Administrative Procedure Act does not apply to the resolution of a complaint using a procedure described by the bill's provisions.       EFFECTIVE DATE    On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.          

BILL ANALYSIS

# BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 4106
By: Dean
Natural Resources
Committee Report (Unamended)

H.B. 4106

By: Dean

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE    There is a need to simplify the complaint process in regard to water and wastewater services at the Public Utility Commission of Texas. H.B. 4106 seeks to provide for a procedure to resolve a complaint by a tenant against an owner about a bill for water or wastewater service.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT   It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY    It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Public Utility Commission of Texas in SECTION 1 of this bill.
ANALYSIS    H.B. 4106 amends the Water Code to authorize the Public Utility Commission of Texas by rule to adopt a simplified procedure to resolve a complaint by a tenant against an owner about a bill for water or wastewater service brought under statutory provisions relating to restitution, submetering rules, or nonsubmetering rules, with respect to apartments, manufactured home rental communities, and other multiple use facilities. The bill establishes that the Administrative Procedure Act does not apply to the resolution of a complaint using a procedure described by the bill's provisions.
EFFECTIVE DATE    On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

 

There is a need to simplify the complaint process in regard to water and wastewater services at the Public Utility Commission of Texas. H.B. 4106 seeks to provide for a procedure to resolve a complaint by a tenant against an owner about a bill for water or wastewater service. 

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY 

 

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Public Utility Commission of Texas in SECTION 1 of this bill.

 

ANALYSIS 

 

H.B. 4106 amends the Water Code to authorize the Public Utility Commission of Texas by rule to adopt a simplified procedure to resolve a complaint by a tenant against an owner about a bill for water or wastewater service brought under statutory provisions relating to restitution, submetering rules, or nonsubmetering rules, with respect to apartments, manufactured home rental communities, and other multiple use facilities. The bill establishes that the Administrative Procedure Act does not apply to the resolution of a complaint using a procedure described by the bill's provisions.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE 

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.