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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an exemption for farms from payment for wastewater |
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service. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 13, Water Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 13.148 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 13.148. FARM WASTEWATER FEE EXEMPTION. (a) In this |
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section: |
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(1) "Community garden" means land gardened by a |
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cooperative group of people residing in a neighborhood or community |
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for the purpose of providing fresh produce for the benefit of the |
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residents of the neighborhood or community. |
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(2) "Farm" means land used primarily to produce food |
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for human consumption. The term includes a food plot in a community |
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garden or a farm inside the boundaries of a municipality. |
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(b) Notwithstanding another provision of this chapter, a |
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retail public utility may not receive compensation for wastewater |
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service provided to an owner or operator of a farm unless the |
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compensation is based on the actual wastewater service used by the |
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owner or operator for purposes of the farm. |
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(c) The commission may develop standards to determine |
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whether a farm or garden qualifies as a farm or community garden |
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under this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |