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.