BILL ANALYSIS



H.B. 1281
By: Duncan
03-15-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

General law cities are not governed by home rule charters.  Rather,
they must look to the general laws of Texas for their authority to
exercise municipal powers.  Legislation is therefore necessary to
grant general law cities the authority to own or operate cable TV
systems.  Since small city markets are often not attractive to
private providers of cable TV services, granting general law cities
the authority to own or operate cable TV systems would allow them
the opportunity to provide their citizens access to better cable TV
service and enable them to do what all home rule charter
municipalities can currently do.


PURPOSE

As proposed HB 813 would amend Subchapter Z, Local Government Code
by adding Section 402.905 to grant general law municipalities the
authority to own and/or operate a cable TV system.


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly
grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer,
department, agency or institution.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter Z, Local Government Code by adding
           Section 402.905 to grant general law municipalities the
           authority to own and/or operate a cable TV system.

SECTION 2. Emergency Clause

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

H.B. 1281 was heard by the committee in a public hearing on March
13, 1995.  The following persons testified in favor of the bill:
Rep. Duncan; Gary Brown, representing the Texas Municipal League;
and Shanna Igo, representing the Texas Municipal League.  The bill
was reported favorably, without amendment, with the recommendation
that it do pass and be printed, by a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays,
0 pnv, and 1 absent.