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.