By: Ellis S.B. No. 1238
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to local regulation of the distance requirements for the
  sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages near certain homeless
  shelters and substance abuse treatment centers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 109, Alcoholic Beverage
  Code, is amended by adding Section 109.36 to read as follows:
         Sec. 109.36.  CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES NEAR
  HOMELESS SHELTER OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT CENTER. (a)  In this
  section:
               (1)  "Central business district" means a compact and
  contiguous geographical area of a municipality used for commercial
  purposes that has historically been the primary location in the
  municipality where business has been transacted.
               (2)  "Homeless shelter" means a supervised publicly or
  privately operated shelter or other facility that is designed to
  provide temporary living accommodations to individuals who lack a
  fixed regular and adequate residence.
               (3)  "Open container" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 109.35.
         (b)  The commissioners court of a county may enact
  regulations applicable in areas in the county outside an
  incorporated city or town, and the governing board of an
  incorporated city or town may enact regulations applicable in the
  city or town, prohibiting the possession of an open container or the
  consumption of an alcoholic beverage on a public street, public
  alley, or public sidewalk within 1,000 feet of the property line of
  a homeless shelter that is not located in a central business
  district or a substance abuse treatment center that is not located
  in a central business district.
         (c)  If the commissioners court of a county or the governing
  board of an incorporated city or town enacts a prohibition under
  Subsection (b), the commissioners court or the governing board may
  enact regulations allowing special temporary events for which
  Subsection (b) may be suspended.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.