TITLE: Relating to notice provided by certain public water systems regarding a water service interruption in an area served by a fire department that provides fire suppression services.

SUMMARY: Relating to notice provided by certain public water systems regarding a water service interruption in an area served by a fire department that provides fire suppression services.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to notice provided by certain public water systems regarding a water service interruption in an area served by a fire department that provides fire suppression services. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 341, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 341.03561 to read as follows: Sec. 341.03561. NOTICE OF WATER SERVICE INTERRUPTION TO FIRE DEPARTMENT. (a) In this section: (1) "Fire department" has the meaning assigned by Section 795.001. (2) "Hydrant" has the meaning assigned by Section 341.03571. (3) "Public safety answering point" has the meaning assigned by Section 772.001. (4) "Regulatory authority" has the meaning assigned by Section 13.002, Water Code, except the term does not include the governing body of a municipality. (b) This section applies only to a public water system located outside the incorporated area of a municipality that is required by a regulatory authority to install and maintain a hydrant under Section 341.0358, 341.03585, or 341.0359, including rules and standards adopted under those sections. (c) The regulatory authority of a public water system to which this section applies shall by rule require the public water system to provide to each fire department providing fire suppression services in the area where the hydrant is located notice of a water service interruption that renders the hydrant temporarily unavailable for use in a fire emergency. The notice must be provided: (1) for a planned water service interruption, before the interruption begins; and (2) for an unplanned water service interruption of three hours or more, as soon as practicable but not later than 24 hours from the time the authority is first notified or otherwise becomes aware of the interruption. (d) A public water system to which this section applies shall notify each fire department that is provided notice of a water service interruption under Subsection (c) notice of the water service's resumption not later than two hours from the time the water service is resumed. (e) For the purposes of this section, a hydrant that is unavailable for pumping directly from the hydrant is unavailable for use in a fire emergency. (f) For purposes of providing the required notice under Subsections (c) and (d), the regulatory authority of a public water system may approve the use of: (1) a dynamic information database described by Section 418.192, Government Code; and (2) the public water system's Internet website or a social media platform, as defined by Section 120.001, Business & Commerce Code, that allows fire departments to subscribe to or otherwise receive notices from the website or platform. (g) The regulatory authority of a public water system may delegate the system's duty to provide notice under Subsection (c) or (d) to a public safety answering point that relays information to fire departments providing fire suppression services in the area where the affected hydrant is located. A public safety answering point delegated the duty to provide notice under Subsection (c) or (d) must provide that notice in accordance with the applicable time for notice under those subsections. 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.