TWT H.B. 3025 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS TRANSPORTATION H.B. 3025 By: Brimer 4-5-97 Committee Report (Amended) BACKGROUND Prior to January 1995, the Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport board waived parking fees, for the first 30 days, for all persons with authorized disabled license plates or permits. Some 151 new disabled parking stalls were added to the airport's current parking system. At its January 1995 Board meeting, the board permitted the airport to charge disabled parking patrons the same rate as all other patrons. The only exception to this policy was free parking which was extended to individuals displaying a disabled veteran or congressional medal of honor license plate (in accordance with state law). During the 74th Texas Legislature, H.B. 2083 (related to the issuance of special license plates and parking placards for vehicles owned by or transporting disabled persons) was enacted. One provision in this bill prohibited a governmental entity from charging an individual displaying a disabled permit for parking in a parking garage or parking lot. The effect, although not the intent, prohibited DFW Airport from assessing parking fees on disabled individuals. The author of the legislation, Representative Garnet Coleman, confirmed that it was never the intent of this legislation to permit disabled parkers to park free at airports. DFW Airport chose to follow he letter of the law. Effective August 1995, DFW Airport stopped collecting the parking fee transactions for all holders of disabled license plates and/or permits. DFW Airport estimates it loses approximately $1,696,000 in parking fee revenue due to this inadvertent legislation. PURPOSE This bill will permit the reimposition of fees on disabled individuals (excluding disabled veterans and Congressional Medal of Honor winners) who park at DFW International Airport. 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 Section 681.006(b), Transportation Code, to remove an exemption for payment of parking fees imposed by a governmental unit for parking "in a space" with a limitation on the length of time for parking for a vehicle being operated by or for the transportation of a person with a disability. SECTION 2. Effective Date - September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency Clause. EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS Adds a new Section 2 and renumbers remaining sections accordingly. SECTION 2. Amends Sec. 681.006, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (e) which clarifies that this code does not exempt any owner or operator of a vehicle from payment of fees or penalties imposed by a governmental unit for parking at a meter, garage, lot or space within the boundaries of a municipal airport.