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.