BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 1281
                                            By: Duncan (Montford)
                                             Economic Development
                                                          5-23-95
                              Senate 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.  Since small city markets are often not
attractive to private providers of cable services, granting general
law cities the authority to own or operate cable TV systems allows
them the opportunity to provide their citizens access to better
cable TV service.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1281 authorizes 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 grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 402Z, Local Government Code, by adding
Section 402.905, as follows:

     Sec.  402.905.  OPERATION OF CABLE TV SYSTEMS BY GENERAL-LAW
     MUNICIPALITIES.  Authorizes a general-law municipality to own
     and/or operate a cable TV system.
     
     SECTION 2.     Emergency clause.
           Effective date:  90 days after adjournment.