Bill Text: TX HB254 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to an exemption for farms from payment for wastewater service.

Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-04-23 - No action taken in committee [HB254 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HB254-Introduced.html

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83R804 JXC-D
By: Miles H.B. No. 254

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