SRC- VRA  AMY C.S.S.B. 203 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 203
By: Janek
Intergovernmental Relations
5/6/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 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.  C.S.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

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION 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 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.