H.B. No. 965         AN ACT   relating to the authority of a retail public water utility to   require an operator of a correctional facility to comply with water   conservation measures.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 13, Water Code, is amended   by adding Section 13.1461 to read as follows:          Sec. 13.1461.  CORRECTIONAL FACILITY COMPLIANCE WITH   CONSERVATION MEASURES. (a)  This section applies only to a   correctional facility operated by the Texas Department of Criminal   Justice or operated under contract with that department.          (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), a retail public   utility may require the operator of a correctional facility that   receives retail water or sewer utility service from the retail   public utility to comply with water conservation measures adopted   or implemented by the retail public utility.          (c)  A correctional facility is not required to comply with a   water conservation measure under Subsection (b) if the operator of   the correctional facility submits to the retail public utility a   written statement from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice   that states that the measure would endanger health and safety at the   facility or unreasonably increase the costs of operating the   facility.          (d)  If a retail public utility suspends a water conservation   measure and later implements the same measure, the operator of a   correctional facility that received an exemption from the original   measure under Subsection (c) must submit a new written statement   from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to obtain an   exemption under Subsection (c) from the newly implemented measure.          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.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 965 was passed by the House on April   26, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 5, 1 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.B. No. 965 was passed by the Senate on May   19, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate       APPROVED:  _____________________                      Date                           _____________________                    Governor