BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3358

By: Lucio III

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

For decades, municipalities have been tasked with regulating taxicab transportation services. Taxicabs generally have been understood to mean an automobile that carries passengers for a fare and are frequently connected to passengers via phone or internet enabled dispatch. In recent years, certain companies have begun operating as dispatchers for passenger transportation services solely via internet enabled applications. These companies assert that they are merely technology companies and do not provide passenger taxicab transportation services and thus not subject to municipal regulation. Interested parties contend that under this assertion, those companies have operated illegally in numerous Texas municipalities. H.B. 3358 seeks to clarify the law in regard to municipal control over passenger transportation services in passenger automobiles to ensure the preservation of public safety.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3358 amends the Local Government Code to expand the scope of statutory provisions regarding municipal regulation of certain private passenger vehicles that specifically provide taxicab and limousine transportation services to include municipal regulation of passenger transportation services for compensation in general.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.