H. B. 2163

         (By Delegates J. Miller, Cowles, Overington and Duke)

         [Introduced January 11, 2012

; referred to the

         Committee on Political Subdivisions then the Judiciary.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §24-3-11, relating to creating a mandatory grace period for the payment of water and sewer bills.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §24-3-11, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 3. DUTIES AND PRIVILEGES OF PUBLIC UTILITIES SUBJECT TO REGULATIONS OF COMMISSION.

§24-3-11. Grace period for payment of water and sewer bills.

    Any water or sewer facility which is owned or operated by a public or private utility, city, incorporated town, municipal corporation or public service district shall give every customer a thirty-day grace period for payment of the customer’s water and sewer bill before charging a late fee.

    NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require water and sewer facilities to give every customer a thirty-day grace period for payment of their bill before instituting a late fee.

    This section is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.