HB 557 -- REGIONAL TAXICAB COMMISSION

CO-SPONSORS:  Kennedy, Shelton, Hilgemann, Levin, Portwood

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Municipal
Corporations by a vote of 10 to 2.

This bill creates a Regional Taxicab Commission which will
exercise authority over a regional taxicab district consisting
of the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County.  The purpose of
the commission is to improve the quality of taxicab service.
The commission is a public corporation acting in a governmental
capacity.

The bill specifies the composition of the commission, including
the number of members, appointment of members, terms of service,
the selection of a chairperson, and residency requirements for
members.  The bill also specifies the duties and powers of the
commission.

The City of St. Louis and St. Louis County will have the power
to enact ordinances which impose suitable penalties for persons
who commit injury upon the district's property.

The commission is required to submit a written report before the
second Monday in April of each year to the chief executives and
governing bodies of the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County
and to the General Assembly.  The report is required to contain
the operating conditions and fiscal management conditions of the
commission.

The chief executives of the City of St. Louis and St. Louis
County are required to appoint one or more certified public
accountants who will conduct an annual examination of the
commission's books, papers, documents, accounts, and vouchers.
The commission is required to assist the certified public
accountants in the performance of their duties.

The bill contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that tourism is a major industry
employing 62,000 persons in the St. Louis area.  There have been
problems providing persons and tourists with taxi service in the
St. Louis area.  In order to address these problems, it is
important to have a regional approach for taxi service in the
St. Louis region.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Kennedy; Office of
the Mayor, City of St. Louis; St. Louis Convention and Visitors
Commission; and St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth
Association.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that the City of St.
Louis has an ordinance already in place.  If the ordinance was
enforced, it would solve the problems.

Testifying against the bill were Laclede Cab Company; and
Varsity of St. Louis Taxi Owners and Drivers.

Joseph Deering, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:44 am