SB179 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Linda Coleman-MadisonSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to municipal water works boards; to require certain municipal water works boards to provide customer data regarding sewer service at the request of a county commission that provides sewer service in certain circumstances and provide mechanisms to determine the fees a board could charge in exchange for the data; to require certain municipal water works boards to provide billing and collection services for sewer service at the request of a county commission that provides the sewer service and provide mechanisms to determine the fees a board could charge in exchange for billing and collection services; to require certain municipal water works boards to shut off water service for nonpayment of sewer service at the request of a county commission providing the sewer service and provide mechanisms to determine the fees a board could charge for the shut off service; and to provide legal mechanisms for a county commission to pursue in the event that a municipal water works board fails to abide by the requirements of this act.

Summary

SB179 would require certain municipal water boards to share sewer customer data with county sewer commissions, provide sewer billing/collection services, and allow water shut-offs for nonpayment of sewer charges, with defined fees and enforcement.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill would obligate eligible municipal water boards to provide detailed sewer customer data to the county commission that oversees sewer service upon written request, including a capped number of requests per year. It would also require boards to offer online access to relevant data for sewer administration and to share additional identifying information, ownership documents, and service applications. The bill would authorize boards to perform billing and collection for sewer customers on request, charge fees based on actual costs (not as a percentage of collections), and require joint billing for customers who receive both water and sewer services. It also allows counties to require boards to shut off water for nonpayment of sewer charges, with timelines for shut-off and reconnection, and establishes enforcement and cost-recovery mechanisms if boards do not comply.

Who It Affects

• Municipal water works boards: must provide sewer customer data, offer billing/collection services, implement shut-offs for sewer nonpayment, and may face audits, costs, and legal action if they fail to comply.
• County commissions and their sewer service customers: gain new authority to request data, have boards bill/collect sewer charges, and shut off water for nonpayment, with defined fee structures, cost reimbursements, and enforcement options.

Key Provisions

• Defines which municipal water boards are subject to the act and clarifies exemptions (e.g., boards that also run electric distribution or wholesale-only utilities).
• Section 2: Upon written request, boards must provide detailed sewer customer account information (name, address, account number, meter size/number, payment and consumption history) and restricts to no more than two requests per board per calendar year.
• Section 3: Within 60 days, boards must provide continuous online electronic access to data fields needed to administer sewer accounts, including additional identifying information and occupancy documents; access must enable the county to download data and generate reports.
• Section 4: Boards must perform billing and collection for the county’s sewer customers upon written request, starting with the next billing cycle after a generated report; joint water/sewer bills must use the county’s rate structure and reflect combined charges.
• Section 5: Sets fee rules for billing/collection: boards are paid a fee equal to 110% of their actual direct incremental cost, fees cannot be based on a percentage of sewer charges, and the joint billing cost is allocated and collected fairly.
• Section 6: For boards not currently providing billing/collection, or ending an existing agreement, requires data sharing and data formats for sewer customers, monthly data delivery, and cost considerations.
• Section 7: Establishes a process to determine costs via an independent CPA firm, sharing the cost of the examination between board and commission, and requiring periodic updated cost reports.
• Section 8: Authorizes and governs water shut-offs for delinquent sewer charges within 10 business days of a commission request, requires reconnection only after full payment of sewer charges/fees/interest, and allows boards to charge a matching fee for the disconnect action; requires a dedicated employee for shut-offs and reimbursement of costs by the commission; failure to shut off can incur financial obligations to the commission.
• Includes notice and delinquency procedures before a shut-off can be requested, and specifies requirements for informing customers.
• Section 9: Preserves existing contracts and rights; does not terminate or alter pre-existing agreements unless amended.
• Section 10: Grants the commission the right to pursue legal action to enforce compliance, with the board responsible for attorney fees, costs, and expenses.
• Section 11: Establishes the act’s effective date (first day of the first month after passage and governor approval).

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Municipalities, further provided for relationships between certain water authorities and sewer providers