HBA-TYH, JRA, MPA H.B. 1575 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1575
By: Maxey
Urban Affairs
6/3/1999
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 76th Legislature, state law prohibited "double parking."
Activities such as valet parking and loading and unloading goods sometimes
required double parking.  The result has been that police had to make
judgment calls when they see these activities, and employees were unsure
whether and how to carry out their job duties.  Since many activities
relating to downtown businesses required double parking, police often were
placed in the position of having to enforce the law on a case-bycase basis.
H.B. 1575 promotes uniform application of the law and helps downtown
economies by allowing municipalities to regulate double parking in their
downtown areas. 

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.  Amends Section 545.302, Transportation Code, by adding
Subsection (g), as follows: 

(g)  Authorizes the governing body of a municipality to adopt an ordinance
regulating the standing, stopping, or parking of a vehicle on the roadway
side of a vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street as
described by Subsection (a)(1), other than a road or highway in the state
highway system, in the central business district of the municipality as
defined in the ordinance if the governing body determines that it is
necessary to improve the economic development of the municipality's central
business district and that it will not adversely affect public safety.
Provides that if there is a conflict between the ordinance and Subsection
(a)(1), the ordinance controls. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 545.303, Transportation Code, by adding
Subsection (e), as follows: 

(e)  Provides that, to the extent of any conflict between Subsection (a) or
(b) (relating to parallel parking) and a municipal ordinance adopted under
Section 545.302(g), the ordinance controls. 

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.