Bill: SB 981, 83(R) - 2013

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
No Neutral Neutral Neutral Negative Neutral

Author(s)

Leticia Van de Putte

Bill Caption

Relating to electric utility bill payment assistance programs for certain veterans burned in combat.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. LBB notes: There would be costs to a retail electric provider that chose to establish a bill payment assistance program for burned veterans; however, the amounts would vary depending on the amount of funding necessary to establish a program and the number of applicable veterans that would receive services. It is anticipated that a provider would establish a program only if sufficient funds were available, or it would not result in a negative fiscal impact.

Bill Analysis

Note: SB 981 is identical to HB 2391.  Below is our previous analysis of HB 2391.

Summary: This legislation would authorize a retail electric provider, electric co-op, or a municipal electric utility to establish a bill “payment assistance program” for military veterans who have a significantly decreased ability to regulate body temperature as a result of severe burns received in combat.  This bill also states that participating utilities are entitled to fully recover all costs and expenses related to the bill payment assistance program and defer costs related to the program not explicitly included in base rates.

Analysis:  This legislation or bracketed for San Antonio but could encompass municipalities with a populations of more than one million but less than two million people in the future. This bill creates a narrow subsidy for utility payments. This legislation would place government in the role of private charity.

Source URL (retrieved on 04/19/2024 08:04 PM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/83r/sb981?print_view=true