SRC-SEW H.B. 1912 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1912 By: Capelo (West) Intergovernmental Relations 5/10/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Cities are becoming more aware of the need to provide citizens who have mobility impairments with access improvements. The federal government has further directed the attention of cities to access improvements through the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act. One of the largest issues facing cities in Texas is the question of accessibility of sidewalks and streets. This involves not only adequate sidewalks, but very specifically defined curb cuts at intersections. A number of cities across the state have been cited for failure to provide adequate access. H.B. 1912 authorizes the governing body of a municipality to add a $1 fee per month to each bill from a municipality-owned utility system which may only be used by the municipality for construction and maintenance of street and sidewalk accessibility improvements and accessible municipal park maintenance and construction to achieve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 402.001, Local Government Code, by adding Subsections (e) and (f), as follows: (e) Authorizes a municipality each year by ordinance to add a fee for a period not exceeding one year to the utility bill issued by a municipally owned utility system containing one or more utilities. Sets forth guidelines regarding the fee. (f) Requires the municipality to deposit in a special account the fees collected under Subsection (e). Authorizes funds in the account to be used only by the municipality to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.), in providing certain services. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.