AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Under current law, a rapid transit authority confirmed before July 1, 1985, in which the principal municipality has a population of less than 850,000 may employ persons to serve as fare enforcement officers to conduct fare inspections and issue citations to individuals who do not show proof of payment to use bus or rail services.  Interested parties contend that cities with populations that exceed this amount should also have this authority.  H.B. 3031 removes the bracket to allow more rapid transit authorities to employ fare enforcement officers.

 

H.B. 3031 amends current law relating to fare enforcement officers for metropolitan rapid transit authorities.

 

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 the heading to Section 451.0612, Transportation Code, to read as follows:

 

Sec. 451.0612.  FARE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 451.0612(a), Transportation Code, to authorize an authority to employ persons to serve as fare enforcement officers to enforce the payment of fares for use of the public transportation system by requesting and inspecting evidence showing payment of the appropriate fare from a person using the public transportation system, and issuing a citation to a person described by Section 451.0611(d)(1) (relating to providing that a person commits an offense if  the person or another for whom the person is criminally responsible under Section 7.02 (Criminal Responsibility for Conduct of Another), Penal Code, uses the public transportation system and does not possess evidence showing that the appropriate fare has been paid), rather than authorizing an authority confirmed before July 1, 1985, in which the principal municipality has a population of less than 850,000, to employ persons to serve as fare enforcement officers to enforce the payment of fares for use of the public transportation system by requesting and inspecting evidence showing payment of the appropriate fare from a person using the public transportation system, and issuing a citation to a person described by Section 451.0611(d)(1).

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2013.