By Jones of Lubbock                             H.B. No. 2997

      75R9292 PAM-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the regulation of outdoor advertising in certain dry

 1-3     areas.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 108.56, Alcoholic Beverage Code, is

 1-6     amended to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 108.56.  DRY AREAS.  (a)  Except as provided by

 1-8     Subsection (b), no [No] person may erect or maintain a billboard or

 1-9     electric sign in an area or zone where the sale of alcoholic

1-10     beverages is prohibited by law.

1-11           (b)  A person may erect or maintain a billboard in an area or

1-12     zone where the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited by law if:

1-13                 (1)  the billboard is within 1,500 feet of the premises

1-14     that the billboard advertises; and

1-15                 (2)  an interstate highway separates the premises and

1-16     the billboard.

1-17           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-22     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-23     passage, and it is so enacted.