By Lindsay                                             S.B. No. 155
         76R3035 SMH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a limitation on the amount charged for parking in
 1-3     connection with a special event; creating an offense.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS.  In this Act:
 1-6                 (1)  "Parking facility," "parking facility owner," and
 1-7     "vehicle" have the meanings assigned by Section 684.001,
 1-8     Transportation Code.
 1-9                 (2)  "Special event" includes a sporting event,
1-10     convention, concert, exhibit, parade, or political rally.
1-11           SECTION 2.  LIMITATION OF PARKING CHARGE IN CONNECTION WITH
1-12     SPECIAL EVENT.  A parking facility owner may not charge for parking
1-13     a vehicle in the parking facility in connection with a special
1-14     event an amount that is more than two times the amount computed
1-15     using the rate that is normally charged for parking a vehicle in
1-16     the facility on that day of the week and at that time.
1-17           SECTION 3.  OFFENSE.  (a)  A person commits an offense if the
1-18     person violates Section 2 of this Act.
1-19           (b)  An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
1-20           (c)  It is a defense to prosecution under this section that
1-21     the parking facility owner posted a conspicuous sign at least two
1-22     feet wide and two feet high at the entrance to the parking facility
1-23     stating:
1-24                 (1)  the rate that is normally charged for parking a
 2-1     vehicle in the facility; and
 2-2                 (2)  the rate that is charged for parking a vehicle in
 2-3     the facility in connection with a special event.
 2-4           SECTION 4.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect September
 2-5     1, 1999.
 2-6           SECTION 5.  EMERGENCY.  The importance of this legislation
 2-7     and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-8     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-9     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-10     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.