Sec. 26.083. HEARING TO DESIGNATE SYSTEMS TO SERVE THE AREA DEFINED; ORDER; ELECTION; ETC. (a) At the hearing held under Section 26.082 of this code or at a subsequent hearing held in or near an area defined under Section 26.082 of this code, the commission may consider whether to designate the person to provide a regional or area-wide system or systems to serve all or part of the waste collection, treatment, or disposal needs of the area defined.

(b) Notice of the hearing shall be given to the local governments and to owners and operators of any waste collection, treatment, and disposal systems who in the judgment of the commission may be affected.

(c) If after the hearing the commission finds that there is an existing or proposed system or systems then capable or which in the reasonably foreseeable future will be capable of serving the waste collection, treatment, or disposal needs of all or part of the area defined and that the owners or operators of the system or systems are agreeable to providing the services, the commission may enter an order designating the person to provide the waste collection, treatment, or disposal system or systems to serve all or part of the area defined.

(d) After the commission enters an order under Subsection (c) of this section and if the commission receives a timely and sufficient request for an election as provided in Section 26.087, the commission shall designate a presiding judge for an election, to determine whether the proposed regional or area-wide system or systems operated by the designated regional entity should be created.

Amended by Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2207, ch. 870, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977; Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 795, Sec. 1.094, eff. Sept. 1, 1985.