HBA-NIK S.B. 155 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 155 By: Lindsay Transportation 5/11/1999 Committee Report (Amended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas law does not provide a limit on the amount charged for parking in connection with a special event, or require a notice of the parking charge to be posted. People are being charged a substantial amount for parking without notice before parking. S.B. 155 requires a parking facility owner to post a conspicuous sign if the parking charge more than doubles the normal rate for a special event. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. Defines "parking facility," "parking facility owner," "vehicle," and "special event." SECTION 2. LIMITATION OF PARKING CHARGE IN CONNECTION WITH SPECIAL EVENT. Prohibits a parking facility owner from charging for parking a vehicle in the parking facility in connection with a special event an amount that is more than two times the amount computed using the rate that is normally charged for parking a vehicle in the facility on that day of the week and at that time Provides that this section does not apply to institutions of higher education or private or independent institutions of higher education as defined in Section 61.003, Education Code. SECTION 3. OFFENSE. (a) Provides that a person commits an offense if the person violates Section 2 of this Act. (b) Provides that an offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. (c) Provides that it is a defense to prosecution under this section that the parking facility owner posted a conspicuous sign at least two feet wide and two feet high at the entrance to the parking facility stating: (1) the rate that is normally charged for parking a vehicle in the facility; and (2) the rate that is charged for parking a vehicle in the facility in connection with a special event. SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 5. EMERGENCY. Emergency clause. EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS Amendment # 1. Amends Section 3(c)(1) and 3(c)(2), as follows: (1) in print at least six inches in height, the rate that is normally charged for parking a vehicle in the facility; and (2) in print at least six inches in height, the rate that is charged for parking a vehicle in the facility in connection with a special event.