Ord 21-2017 6/20/2017
Ordinance No. _21-2017_
Ordinance amending Chapter 110 of the Code of Ordinances,
Vehicles for Hire, by deleting Article IV, Transpo rtation Network
Company Service; providing a repealer clause; providing for
inclusion; providing for severability
WHEREAS, on November 1, 2016, the City amended Chapter 110 of the Code of
Ordinances, Vehicles for Hire, in its entirety, in order to allow Transportation Network
Companies to operate in the City; and,
WHEREAS, Texas House Bill 100, signed into law and effective on May 29,
2017, and codified as Chapter 2402 of Subtitle C, Title 14, of the Occupations
Code, requires ride-hailing companies to have a permit from the Texas Department
of Licensing and Regulation and pay an annual fee of $5,000 to operate throughout
the state; and,
WHEREAS, it also calls for companies to perform local, state and national
criminal background checks on drivers annually, but does not require drivers to be
fingerprinted; and,
WHEREAS, HB 100 provides that the regulation of transportation network
companies, drivers logged into a digital network, and vehicles used to provide
digitally prearranged rides is an exclusive power and function of the State and may
not be regulated by a municipality; and,
WHEREAS, such state regulation of ride-hailing companies requires that the
City now amend Chapter 110, Vehicles for Hire, of the Code of Ordinances, to
remove all regulations in conflict therewith.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, THAT:
1. Chapter 110 of the Code of Ordinance, Vehicles for Hire, is hereby
amended so as to delete Article IV, Transportation Network Company Service.
2. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby
repealed.
3. It is the intention of the City Council of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, that
the provisions of this ordinance shall become a part of the Code of Ordinances of the City
of Wichita Falls, Texas, and that sections of this ordinance may be renumbered or
relettered to accomplish such intention .
4. Should any word, phrase, paragraph, section or portion of this ordinance or
the Code of Ordinances, as amended hereby, be held to be void or unconstitutional, the
same shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of said ordinance or the Code
of Ordinances, as amended hereby, which shall remain in full force and effect.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the 20th day of June, 2017.
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M A Y O R
ATTEST:
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City Clerk