AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS FOR COLLECTION OF PAST DUE UTILITY OR SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SERVICES FEES

(a) A county or public agency that offers solid waste disposal services under this subchapter may enter an agreement for the collection of unpaid utility or solid waste disposal services fees with: (1) another county or public agency that provides solid waste disposal services under this subchapter; (2) a municipality that operates a utility system, as defined by Section 552.001, Local Government Code; or (3) another political subdivision acting on behalf of a municipality, county, or public agency to assist in the collection of unpaid utility charges or solid waste disposal fees. (b) The agreement may provide that a county or public agency: (1) may refuse to provide solid waste disposal services to a person if the person is past due on utility charges or solid waste disposal services fees owed to another party to the agreement; or (2) may collect an amount equal to the past due utility charges or solid waste disposal services fees owed to another party to the agreement plus a service charge and provide the solid waste disposal services the person requests. (c) The agreement shall provide for: (1) the confidentiality of a person's utility or solid waste disposal account information and the prevention of disclosure to a person or other entity that is not a party to the agreement; and (2) the apportionment of any past due charges, fees, and service charges authorized by Subsection (b)(2) between the collecting entity and the entity to which the fees are owed.