By Capelo                                             H.B. No. 1912
         77R4961 ATP-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the authority of a municipality to impose and use
 1-3     utility fees for certain disabled access improvements.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 402.001, Local Government Code, is amended
 1-6     by adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows:
 1-7           (e)  A municipality may by ordinance add a fee to the utility
 1-8     bills issued by a municipally owned utility system.  The fee:
 1-9                 (1)  may not exceed $1 each month; and
1-10                 (2)  shall be paid at an interval determined by the
1-11     governing body of the municipality.
1-12           (f)  The municipality shall deposit in a special account the
1-13     fees collected under Subsection (e).  Funds in the account may be
1-14     used only by the municipality to construct and maintain street and
1-15     sidewalk improvements, including curb cuts and signals at
1-16     crosswalks, to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1-17     1990 (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.).
1-18           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-19     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-20     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-21     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-22     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.