89R5888 DNC-F     By: Schatzline H.B. No. 1910       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the authority of a political subdivision to regulate   panhandling on public property; creating a criminal offense.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle C, Title 11, Local Government Code, is   amended by adding Chapter 366 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 366.  PERMITS FOR PANHANDLING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY          Sec. 366.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                (1)  "Panhandle" means to solicit an immediate donation   or transfer of money or another thing of value from an individual,   regardless of the solicitor's purpose or intended use of the money   or thing of value. The term does not include a solicitation made on   behalf of a charitable organization exempt from federal income   taxation under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as an   organization described by Section 501(c)(3) of that code.                (2)  "Political subdivision" means a county,   municipality, school district, junior college district, other   special district, or other political subdivision of this state.                (3)  "Public property" means any property owned or   maintained by the federal government, the state government, or a   political subdivision, including a government-owned highway,   street, sidewalk, plaza, park, or other similar place.          Sec. 366.002.  PANHANDLING PERMIT. (a)  A municipality with   a population of 100,000 or more shall adopt and enforce an ordinance   requiring a permit for panhandling on public property within the   municipality's jurisdiction.          (b)  A political subdivision other than a municipality   described by Subsection (a) may adopt and enforce an ordinance,   order, rule, or other measure requiring a permit for panhandling on   public property within the political subdivision's jurisdiction.          (c)  An ordinance, order, rule, or other measure adopted   under this section:                (1)  must require a person to obtain a panhandling   permit before panhandling on public property;                (2)  may not require a fee to issue the permit;                (3)  may impose reasonable time, place, and manner   restrictions on panhandling on public property for the purpose of   increasing public safety, preventing harassment, and eliminating   crime;                (4)  may restrict the number of persons allowed to   panhandle in a specific location at a given time; and                (5)  must provide that a permit may not be issued until   at least 24 hours after the time an individual submits an   application for the permit, or a longer period if the political   subdivision determines that a longer period is necessary to fulfill   the political subdivision's interest in public safety.           (d)  An application for a panhandling permit must require the   applicant to provide:                (1)  the applicant's name; and                (2)  the date, time, and specific location where the   applicant seeks to panhandle.          (e)  A panhandling permit:                (1)  may not authorize panhandling at a specific   location for longer than 12 consecutive hours;                (2)  must be printed on paper or another physical   medium;                (3)  must be provided to an applicant in person at a   specified location in the political subdivision;                (4)  may not be issued electronically; and                (5)  must display any seal, watermark, or other indicia   the political subdivision determines necessary to prevent   counterfeiting or alteration of the permit.           (f)  A person issued a panhandling permit shall:                 (1)  carry the permit while engaged in panhandling on   public property;                (2)  restrict their panhandling to the date, time, and   specific location identified on the permit; and                (3)  comply with each term of the permit.          (g)  If a political subdivision imposes a limit on the number   of persons who may panhandle in a specific location at a given time,   the political subdivision shall allocate panhandling permits for   the specific location on a first-come, first-served basis.          (h)  A political subdivision shall provide all applicants   for a panhandling permit with information about local and regional   resources that assist persons who are suffering from hunger or   homelessness.          Sec. 366.003.  POLITICAL SUBDIVISION POLICY ON PANHANDLING   PERMITS. (a)  A political subdivision may not adopt or enforce a   policy that prohibits or discourages the enforcement of an   ordinance, order, rule, or other measure adopted under Section   366.002.          (b)  A political subdivision may not prohibit or discourage a   peace officer or prosecuting attorney from enforcing an ordinance,   order, rule, or other measure adopted under Section 366.002.          (c)  This section does not prohibit a policy that encourages   diversion or a provision of services in lieu of citation or arrest.           Sec. 366.004.  CERTAIN REGULATIONS NOT PREEMPTED. This   chapter does not preempt or otherwise affect the authority of a   political subdivision to adopt or enforce an ordinance, order,   rule, or other measure relating to panhandling on public property   that:                (1)  is compatible with and equal to, or more stringent   than, the level of offense prescribed by Section 366.005; or                (2)  relates to an issue not specifically addressed by   this chapter.          Sec. 366.005.  OFFENSE. (a)  A person commits an offense if   the person panhandles on public property in a political subdivision   that adopts an ordinance under Section 366.002 without obtaining a   permit.          (b)  An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.          Sec. 366.006.  INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. (a)  A person, including   the attorney general, may bring an action to enjoin a violation of   Section 366.002 or 366.003 in a district court in:                (1)  Travis County;                (2)  the county in which the principal office of the   political subdivision in which the violation occurs is located; or                (3)  a county adjacent to the county in which the   principal office of the political subdivision in which the   violation occurs is located.          (b)  Any person who substantially prevails in an action under   this section is entitled to an award of reasonable attorney's fees   and costs from the political subdivision.          (c)  Governmental immunity of a political subdivision to   suit and from liability is waived to the extent of liability created   under this section.           Sec. 366.007.  DENIAL OF STATE GRANT FUNDS. (a)  A political   subdivision that is determined in an action under Section 366.006   to have violated Section 366.002 or 366.003 may not receive state   grant funds for the two years following the date of the   determination.          (b)  The comptroller shall adopt rules to implement this   section uniformly among the state agencies from which state grant   funds are distributed to political subdivisions.           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.