S.B. 203 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 203 By: Janek Transportation Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas law does not address the fees a cruise ship terminal located in a county with a population of 3.3 million or more may charge to shuttle, limousine or taxi services. As a result, various service providers at ship terminals may be charged inconsistent fees. S.B. 203 authorizes a municipality or a port authority that is adjacent to a county with a population of 3.3 million or more to charge a reasonable and nondiscriminatoy transit fee to providers of transportation to or from a cruise ship terminal. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Title 14A, Local Government Code, to read as follows: SUBTITLE A. MUNICIPAL PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION PROVISIONS SECTION 2. Amends Title 14A, Local Government Code, by adding Chapter 440, as follows: CHAPTER 440. MISCELLANEOUS PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION PROVISIONS AFFECTING MUNICIPALITIES Sec. 440.001. CERTAIN TRANSIT FEES PROHIBITED. (a) Authorizes a municipality or port authority in a county with a cruise ship terminal and adjacent to a county with a population of 3.3 million or more to impose a reasonable and nondiscriminatory access fee on transportation services to or from the terminal. Prohibits the amount of an access fee imposed under this section from being based on the ownership of the transportation services. Prohibits the total fee imposed by a municipality or port authority under this section against any one person or entity from exceeding $70,000 per calendar year. (b) Specifies that this section does not affect the municipality's authority to license and regulate professional transportation services within its municipal limits or the authority of a port authority to enact reasonable rules and regulations governing vehicular and pedestrian access to or use of port property. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2003. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003.