Fair Access to Residential Water

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO ENACT THE "FAIR ACCESS TO RESIDENTIAL WATER ACT OF 2019" BY ADDING SECTION 5-31-695 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A MUNICIPALITY MAY NOT CHARGE PEOPLE WHO RESIDE OUTSIDE THE CORPORATE BOUNDARIES HIGHER RATES FOR WATER SERVICES THAN IT CHARGES MUNICIPAL RESIDENTS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A MUNICIPALITY MAY NOT REQUIRE OR DEMAND A NONMUNICIPAL RESIDENT'S PERMISSION OR CONSENT TO ANNEXATION BY THE MUNICIPALITY AS A CONDITION FOR ESTABLISHING OR MAINTAINING WATER SERVICE; AND TO PROVIDE THAT OUT OF STATE WATER UTILITIES MAY NOT CHARGE SOUTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS AN UNFAIR RATE FOR WATER SERVICES, AND TO DEFINE THE TERM "UNFAIR RATE".