H.B. No. 2096
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to utility connections on certain tracts of property in
  certain counties near an international border.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 232.029, Local Government Code, is
  amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (k), (l),
  and (m) to read as follows:
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsections [Subsection] (c) and
  (k) or Section 232.037(c), a utility may not serve or connect any
  subdivided land with electricity or gas unless the entity receives
  a determination from the county commissioners court under Section
  232.028(b)(2) that adequate water and sewer services have been
  installed to service the subdivision.
         (k)  Subject to Subsections (l) and (m), a utility that does
  not hold a certificate issued by, or has not received a
  determination from, the commissioners court under Section 232.028
  to serve or connect subdivided property with electricity or gas may
  provide that service to a single-family residential dwelling on
  that property if:
               (1)  the person requesting utility service:
                     (A)  is the owner and occupant of the residential
  dwelling; and
                     (B)  on or before January 1, 2001, owned and
  occupied the residential dwelling;
               (2)  the utility previously provided the utility
  service on or before January 1, 2001, to the property for the person
  requesting the service;
               (3)  the utility service provided as described by
  Subdivision (2) was terminated not earlier than five years before
  the date on which the person requesting utility service submits an
  application for that service; and
               (4)  providing the utility service will not result in:
                     (A)  an increase in the volume of utility service
  provided to the property; or
                     (B)  more than one utility connection for each
  single-family residential dwelling located on the property.
         (l)  A utility may provide service under Subsection (k) only
  if the person requesting the service provides to the commissioners
  court documentation that evidences compliance with the
  requirements of Subsection (k) and that is satisfactory to the
  commissioners court.
         (m)  A utility may not serve or connect subdivided property
  as described by Subsection (k) if, on or after September 1, 2007,
  any existing improvements on that property are modified.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2096 was passed by the House on April
  27, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 133, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to
  H.B. No. 2096 on May 23, 2007, and requested the appointment of a
  conference committee to consider the differences between the two
  houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report
  on H.B. No. 2096 on May 26, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 142,
  Nays 1, 2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2096 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 18, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
  0; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
  committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and
  that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.
  2096 on May 27, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor