SRC-LBB, VRA S.B. 656 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 656
By: Brimer
Intergovernmental Relations
8/15/2003
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, a municipal board must be formed if a city wants to relocate,
reconstruct, or remove on-premise signs.  S.B. 656  authorizes a
municipality to require the removal of an on-premise sign or sign
structure not sooner than the first anniversary of the date the business,
person, or activity that the sign or sign structure identifies or
advertises ceases to operate on the premises on which the sign or sign
structure is located. 


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 216.003, Local Government Code, by amending
Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (e) and (f), as follows: 

(b)  Provides that except as provided by Subsection (e), the owner of a
sign that is required to be relocated, reconstructed, or removed is
entitled to be compensated by the municipality for costs associated with
the relocation, reconstruction, or removal. 

(e)  Authorizes a municipality that exercises authority under this
subchapter, without paying compensation as provided by this subchapter, to
require the removal of an on-premise sign or sign structure not sooner
than the first anniversary of the date the business, person, or activity
that the sign or sign structure identifies or advertises ceases to operate
on the premises on which the sign or sign structure  is located.
Prohibits a municipality from requiring removal under this subsection
sooner than the second anniversary after the date the most recent tenant
ceases to operate on the premises, if the premises containing the sign or
sign structure is leased.  Provides that the removal of a sign or sign
structure as described by this subsection does not require the appointment
of a board under Section 216.004. 

(f)  Authorizes a municipality acting under Subsection (e) to agree with
the owner of the sign or sign structure to remove only a portion of the
sign or sign structure. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Subsection (b), Section 216.010, Local Government Code,
to authorize the municipality, acting pursuant to the Property
Redevelopment and Tax Abatement Act (Chapter 312, Tax Code), to abate
municipal property taxes that otherwise would be owed by the owner of the
sign, if any sign is required to be relocated or reconstructed, or an
on-premise sign is required to be removed.    

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.