79R649 DWS-D
By: Howard H.B. No. 219
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a sign advertising or identifying a sexually oriented
business; providing civil and criminal penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The purposes of this Act are to mitigate the
adverse secondary effects of sexually oriented businesses, improve
traffic safety, limit harm to minors, reduce prostitution, crime,
juvenile delinquency, and deterioration in property values, and
encourage neighborhood improvement efforts.
SECTION 2. Chapter 46, Business & Commerce Code, as added by
Chapter 402, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003,
is amended by adding Section 46.005 to read as follows:
Sec. 46.005. SIGNS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection
(b), a person may not place or maintain an outdoor sign advertising
or identifying a sexually oriented business.
(b) A person may place and maintain not more than two
on-premise signs, as defined by Section 216.002, Local Government
Code, identifying a sexually oriented business. Each sign may not
exceed 40 square feet in size and may include only the business's
name, street address, telephone number, and operating hours.
(c) To the extent of any conflict between this section and a
municipal ordinance, the ordinance prevails.
(d) A person who violates this section commits an offense.
An offense under this subsection is a Class B misdemeanor.
(e) A person who violates this section is liable to the
state for a civil penalty. The attorney general may sue to collect
the penalty. The amount of the civil penalty is not less than $500
or more than $1,000 for each violation, depending on the
seriousness of the violation. A separate penalty may be collected
for each day a continuing violation occurs.
SECTION 3. A sign that exists on the effective date of this
Act and that does not comply with Section 46.005, Business &
Commerce Code, as added by this Act, may be maintained until August
31, 2008. After August 31, 2008, the sign must comply with that
section.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.