SRC-JLB S.B. 1221 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1221
78R4802 ATP-DBy: Hinojosa
Intergovernmental Relations
4/4/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The federal government has directed cities to improve disabled access
through the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  As
proposed, S.B. 1221 authorizes the governing body of a municipality to add
up to a $1 fee per month to each bill from a municipally owned utility
system which may only be used by the municipality for construction and
maintenance of street and sidewalk accessibility improvements and
accessible municipal park maintenance and construction to achieve ADA
compliance. 

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 402.001, Local Government Code, by adding
Subsections (e) and (f), as follows: 
 
(e)  Authorizes a municipality each year by ordinance to add a fee,
covering a period not to exceed one year, to the utility bill issued by a
municipally owned utility system containing one or more utilities.
Requires the fee to meet certain criteria. 

(f)  Requires the municipality to deposit in a special account the fees
collected under Subsection (e).  Authorizes funds in the account to be
used only by the municipality to comply with the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.), as amended, in
providing certain construction and maintenance. 

SECTION 2.   Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.