By:  Brown                                            S.B. No. 1345
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                                       AN ACT
 1-1     relating to the definition of a nonconforming sign and the
 1-2     attachment of the nonconforming, off-premise sign status to the
 1-3     original nonconforming, off-premise sign.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 216.002, Local Government Code, is
 1-6     amended to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 216.002.  Definitions.  In this subchapter:
 1-8                 (1)  "Sign" means an outdoor structure, sign, display,
 1-9     light device, figure, painting, drawing, message, plaque, poster,
1-10     billboard, or other thing that is designed, intended, or used to
1-11     advertise or inform.
1-12                 (2)  "On-premise sign" means a freestanding sign
1-13     identifying or advertising a business, person, or activity, and
1-14     installed and maintained on the same premises as the business,
1-15     person, or activity.
1-16                 (3)  "Off-premise sign" means a sign displaying
1-17     advertising copy that pertains to a business, person, organization,
1-18     activity, event, place, service, or product not principally located
1-19     or primarily manufactured or sold on the premises on which the sign
1-20     is located.
1-21                 (4)  "Nonconforming sign" means a sign that was
1-22     lawfully installed at its current location but no longer complies
1-23     with the local regulations.  The nonconforming status of a sign is
1-24     the property of the owner of the sign, and upon the permanent
 2-1     removal of a nonconforming, off-premise sign by the owner for
 2-2     reasons other than the requirements in Sections 216.013(b) and (c),
 2-3     the nonconforming status of the sign is terminated.
 2-4           SECTION 2.  Section 216.013, Local Government Code, is
 2-5     amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
 2-6           (e)  Notwithstanding any other provision of state law or any
 2-7     law or action of a political subdivision of this state, a
 2-8     nonconforming off-premise sign having been permitted to remain in
 2-9     place as a nonconforming use shall not be eligible for replacement
2-10     or reconstruction at its current location except as provided in
2-11     this chapter.  The nonconforming use attaches to the original
2-12     off-premise sign and shall not authorize another, new,
2-13     nonconforming off-premise sign at such location.
2-14           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-15     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-16     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-17     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-18     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-19     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-20     passage, and it is so enacted.