- House Committee Substitute -

HCS/SCS/SB 613 - WATER SERVICE LINES - With voter approval, certain first class counties, currently including St. Louis County, may impose a fee not to exceed one dollar per month upon water service lines providing water service to residential property having four or fewer dwelling units to fund repairs of such lines.

A water service line shall not extend further than from the water mains to the first opportunity for a connection or joint beyond the point of entry into the premises and shall not include the water meter or any facilities owned by the utility.

The funds collected shall be deposited in a special account and used only for paying for the costs of water service line repairs and, if funds are available, paying the costs of service line repair, replacement or relocation made necessary by public right-of-way improvements.

The county may contract with any provider of water service to bill and collect the fees. The county may establish regulations for the administration of the program. The county may administer, or contract to administer, any part of the program. The costs of administration may be paid from the revenues received under this act.

Any county governing body enacting a fee pursuant to this portion of the act shall, after three years, submit a complete financial report to the General Assembly regarding the fees collected and the expenditure of such funds on infrastructure in the county.

KANSAS CITY WATER COMPANIES - All public water supply districts, regulated water companies and municipal water utilities selling water service in Kansas City shall place all deposits received from a commercial entity in a special interest bearing account. Beginning after one year of water service to a commercial entity, the provider of water service shall annually pay the interest on the deposit to the commercial entity. The deposit and any unpaid interest shall be refunded upon termination of service.

NONPROFIT WATER COMPANIES - The Public Service Commission shall not regulate nonprofit water companies. An existing water company converting to a nonprofit water company shall contribute $1000 per residential unit, not to exceed a total of $50,000, to the nonprofit water company to maintain or improve water facilities.

The act contains an emergency clause.

OTTO FAJEN