By:  Brimer                                                       S.B. No. 656


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the removal of certain on-premise signs in a 
municipality.      
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 216.003, Local Government Code, is 
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (e) and 
(f) to read as follows:
	(b)  Except as provided by Subsection (e), the [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)  A municipality that exercises authority under this 
subchapter may, without paying compensation as provided by this 
subchapter, 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.  If the premises containing 
the sign or sign structure is leased, a municipality may not require 
removal under this subsection sooner than the second anniversary 
after the date the most recent tenant ceases to operate on the 
premises.  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)  A municipality acting under Subsection (e) may agree 
with the owner of the sign or sign structure to remove only a 
portion of the sign or sign structure.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.