Bill Text: MI HB5876 | 2019-2020 | 100th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Public utilities: water utilities; water utility shutoffs during a declared state of emergency; prohibit. Creates new act.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 24-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-06-24 - Bill Electronically Reproduced 06/23/2020 [HB5876 Detail]

Download: Michigan-2019-HB5876-Introduced.html

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HOUSE BILL NO. 5876

June 23, 2020, Introduced by Reps. Brenda Carter, Cynthia Johnson, Hood, Garza, Lasinski, Pohutsky, Ellison, Kennedy, Gay-Dagnogo, Cherry, Brixie, Wittenberg, Chirkun, Sabo, Bolden, Pagan, Coleman, Peterson, Stone, Liberati, Tyrone Carter, Kuppa, Haadsma and Jones and referred to the Committee on Local Government and Municipal Finance.

A bill to prescribe the powers and duties of certain providers of water and sewerage service in this state; and to prohibit certain acts and practices of providers of water and sewerage service.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 1. As used in this act:

(a) "Communicable disease" means that term as defined in section 5101 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.5101.

(b) "Infection" means that term as defined in section 5101 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.5101.

(c) "Provider" means any water and sewerage system that provides water or sewerage service in this state.

Sec. 3. (1) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a provider shall not discontinue service to the residence of a customer if both of the following apply:

(a) The governor has issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency to protect the public health and safety in response to a communicable disease or infection.

(b) The customer files an application with the provider.

(2) A customer may receive shut-off protection from the provider under this section for the duration of the state of emergency.

(3) Unless waived by the provider, the shut-off protection provided under this section does not void or limit the obligation of the customer to pay for services received during the time of assistance.

(4) A provider shall do all of the following:

(a) Establish a repayment plan requiring minimum monthly payments that allows the customer to pay any past due amounts over a reasonable time period not to exceed 1 year.

(b) Provide a customer with information regarding any governmental, provider, or other assistance programs.

(c) Provide a customer with access to existing information on ways to minimize or conserve their service usage.