By: Hall, Perry  S.B. No. 1719          (In the Senate - Filed March 11, 2021; March 26, 2021, read   first time and referred to Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural   Affairs; April 20, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable   Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0;   April 20, 2021, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1719 By:  Springer     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to appellate jurisdiction of the Public Utility Commission   regarding certain water or sewer utility fees.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 13.043, Water Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (g) and adding Subsection (g-1) to read as   follows:          (g)  An applicant for service from an affected county or a   water supply or sewer service corporation may appeal to the utility   commission a decision of the county or water supply or sewer service   corporation relating to any fee or [affecting the] amount to be paid   to obtain service other than the regular membership or tap fees. In   addition to the factors specified under Subsection (j), in an   appeal brought under this subsection the utility commission shall   determine whether the amount paid by the applicant is consistent   with the tariff of the water supply or sewer service corporation and   is reasonably related to the cost of installing on-site and   off-site facilities to provide service to that applicant. If the   utility commission finds the amount charged to be clearly   unreasonable, it shall establish the fee to be paid for that   applicant. An appeal under this subsection must be initiated   within 90 days after the date written notice is provided to the   applicant or member of the decision of an affected county or water   supply or sewer service corporation relating to the applicant's   initial request for that service. A determination made by the   utility commission on an appeal under this subsection is binding on   all similarly situated applicants for service, and the utility   commission may not consider other appeals on the same issue until   the applicable provisions of the tariff of the water supply or sewer   service corporation are amended.          (g-1)  An applicant for service from a water supply or sewer   service corporation may appeal to the utility commission for a   determination of whether the regular membership fee or tap fee   required to be paid to obtain service is consistent with the tariff   of the water supply or sewer service corporation. If the utility   commission finds that the fee is inconsistent with the tariff of the   water supply or sewer service corporation, the utility commission   shall issue an order requiring the water supply or sewer service   corporation to charge the applicant an amount consistent with the   tariff. An appeal under this subsection must be initiated not later   than the 30th day after the date the water supply or sewer service   corporation provides the applicant with the cost of obtaining   service.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2021.     * * * * *