| TO: | Honorable Phil King, Chair, House Committee on Regulated Industries |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB843 by Truitt (Relating to the authority of certain counties to regulate wireless communication facilities in certain circumstances; providing a penalty.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Local Government Code by authorizing certain counties to regulate wireless communication facilities constructed within the county, the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality within the county, and within one-quarter mile of a residential subdivision within the county. The county would be authorized to impose fees on persons regulated under the provisions of the bill. The bill would establish the procedures to be followed in filing with the county for permission to construct communication facilities and would create as a Class C misdemeanor offense a violation of county orders adopted under the proposed statute.
The bill would take effect immediately if it receives two-thirds votes in both houses; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2005.
The counties that meet the population parameters of the bill are Dallas, Tarrant, and Harris. It is assumed that the county commissioners would set the fees authorized by the bill to cover the costs of administering regulations. It is anticipated that costs for enforcement activities associated with implementing regulations would be insignificant.
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.| Source Agencies: |
| LBB Staff: | JOB, JRO, DLBa
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