83R7927 TJB-D
By: Dutton H.B. No. 2077
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to municipal fees in certain populous municipalities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 4, Local Government Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 109 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 109. MUNICIPAL FEES IN POPULOUS MUNICIPALITIES
Sec. 109.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "municipal fee"
means any fee, charge, assessment, or similar payment required by a
municipality for a municipal service, authorization, permit,
license, registration, certification, filing, or similar municipal
action or approval.
Sec. 109.002. APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies only to
a municipality with a population of 1.9 million or more.
Sec. 109.003. REAUTHORIZATION OF FEES. A municipal fee is
abolished on the second anniversary of the date the fee is adopted
or most recently reauthorized under this section unless the
governing body of the municipality:
(1) holds a public hearing on the reauthorization of
the fee; and
(2) reauthorizes the fee by a majority vote of the
governing body before that date.
Sec. 109.004. INCREASING FEES. A municipality may not
increase the amount of a municipal fee unless the governing body of
the municipality holds a public hearing on the increase and adopts
the increase by a majority vote of the governing body.
Sec. 109.005. ANNUAL MUNICIPAL FEE REPORT. (a) A
municipality shall annually prepare and publish a municipal fee
report that lists each municipal fee by name and states:
(1) the cost of each fee;
(2) the purpose of each fee;
(3) the revenue collected from each fee during the
preceding fiscal year;
(4) the expiration date of each fee if the fee is not
reauthorized; and
(5) the revenue collected from all fees during the
preceding fiscal year.
(b) The governing body of the municipality shall take action
to ensure that the municipal fee report:
(1) is made available for inspection at the city hall
by any person;
(2) is posted continuously on the municipality's
Internet website; and
(3) is mailed to each member of the legislature whose
legislative district includes any part of the municipality.
SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 109.003, Local
Government Code, as added by this Act, a municipal fee that exists
on the effective date of this Act is abolished on September 1, 2015,
unless the fee is reauthorized as provided by that section before
September 1, 2015.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.