85R12020 GRM-F     By: Rodríguez S.B. No. 1473       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the authority to establish a customer assistance   program for certain municipally owned utilities.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 552, Local Government   Code, is amended by adding Section 552.916 to read as follows:          Sec. 552.916.  CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AUTHORITY FOR   CERTAIN UTILITIES. (a) This section applies only to a board of   trustees described by Section 1502.070(a)(2)(B), Government Code.          (b)  Notwithstanding any limitation provided by a home-rule   charter or any other policy of a municipal governing body, a board   of trustees has the exclusive authority to establish a bill payment   assistance program for its utility system's customers:                (1)  who received notice of disconnection of service   for nonpayment of bills; or                (2)  whom the utility determines are low-income   customers.          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, 2017.