AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Governing Board is made up of representatives from the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. Seven represent the City of Dallas, four represent the City of Fort Worth, and one represents one of the other four neighboring cities (Grapevine, Euless, Irving, and Coppell).
Chapter 22 (County and Municipal Airports) of the Transportation Code applies to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Currently in Section 22.081 of the Transportation Code, the joint board has the authority to license taxicabs. In an effort to include other vehicles for hire, such as peer-to-peer transportation for compensation vehicles, S.B. 530 adds "vehicles for hire." The new term will include limousines and ride-shares, but will not subject private ride-sharing, where there is no monetary compensation, to any form of regulation.
S.B. 530 amends current law relating to the licensing of vehicles for hire and passenger transportation services by certain airport governing boards, authorizes the imposition of fees; expanding the authorization to require an occupational license, and amends a provision subject to a criminal penalty.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 22.081, Transportation Code, as follows:
Sec. 22.081. New heading: LICENSING OF VEHICLES FOR HIRE AND PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. (a) Creates this subsection from existing text. Authorizes a joint board to license taxicabs transporting passengers to or from the airport and impose fees for issuing the licenses.
(b) Authorizes a joint board for which the constituent agencies are populous home-rule municipalities to:
(1) license vehicles for hire, including taxicabs, and passenger transportation services providing services to or from the airport for compensation; and
(2) impose fees for issuing the licenses.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.