1-1 By: Lindsay S.B. No. 155 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed January 13, 1999; January 28, 1999, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs; 1-4 March 8, 1999, reported favorably, as amended, by the following 1-5 vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; March 8, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-6 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1 By: Nixon 1-7 Amend S.B. No. 155 by adding the following section at the end of 1-8 SECTION 2: "This section does not apply to a public institution of 1-9 higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code." 1-10 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-11 AN ACT 1-12 relating to a limitation on the amount charged for parking in 1-13 connection with a special event; creating an offense. 1-14 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-15 SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: 1-16 (1) "Parking facility," "parking facility owner," and 1-17 "vehicle" have the meanings assigned by Section 684.001, 1-18 Transportation Code. 1-19 (2) "Special event" includes a sporting event, 1-20 convention, concert, exhibit, parade, or political rally. 1-21 SECTION 2. LIMITATION OF PARKING CHARGE IN CONNECTION WITH 1-22 SPECIAL EVENT. A parking facility owner may not charge for parking 1-23 a vehicle in the parking facility in connection with a special 1-24 event an amount that is more than two times the amount computed 1-25 using the rate that is normally charged for parking a vehicle in 1-26 the facility on that day of the week and at that time. 1-27 SECTION 3. OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the 1-28 person violates Section 2 of this Act. 1-29 (b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. 1-30 (c) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that 1-31 the parking facility owner posted a conspicuous sign at least two 1-32 feet wide and two feet high at the entrance to the parking facility 1-33 stating: 1-34 (1) the rate that is normally charged for parking a 1-35 vehicle in the facility; and 1-36 (2) the rate that is charged for parking a vehicle in 1-37 the facility in connection with a special event. 1-38 SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September 1-39 1, 1999. 1-40 SECTION 5. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation 1-41 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-42 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-43 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-44 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 1-45 * * * * *