CHAPTER 2155. HOTELS AND BOARDINGHOUSES
OCCUPATIONS CODE
TITLE 13. SPORTS, AMUSEMENTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT
SUBTITLE D. OTHER AMUSEMENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
CHAPTER 2155. HOTELS AND BOARDINGHOUSES
SUBCHAPTER A. NOTIFICATION OF LODGING RATES
Sec. 2155.001. ROOM RATE INFORMATION. (a) A hotel owner or
keeper shall post a card or sign in a conspicuous place in each
hotel room stating:
(1) the daily room rate; and
(2) the date the card or sign was posted.
(b) An increase in the daily room rate is not effective until
the 30th day after the date a card or sign with the increased
rate is posted.
(c) The owner or keeper of a hotel having 20 or more rooms shall
give a guest assigned a room a ticket showing the daily room rate
being charged for the room. The room rate on the ticket must
conform with the rate posted under Subsection (a).
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 2155.002. CRIMINAL PENALTIES. (a) A hotel owner or keeper
commits an offense if the person does not post a room rate as
required by Section 2155.001(a).
(b) A hotel owner, keeper, or employee commits an offense if the
person does not give a guest a ticket as required by Section
2155.001(c).
(c) A hotel owner, keeper, or employee commits an offense if the
person knowingly charges a guest a room rate for a room that is
more than the posted rate for that room. Each day an excessive
rate is charged is a separate offense.
(d) An offense under Subsection (a) or (c) is a misdemeanor
punishable by:
(1) a fine of not less than $25 or more than $100;
(2) confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 30 days; or
(3) both a fine and confinement.
(e) An offense under Subsection (b) is a misdemeanor punishable
by a fine of not more than $100.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
SUBCHAPTER B. LIABILITY FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY ON PREMISES
Sec. 2155.051. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "hotel" means a
business, including an inn or rooming house, that furnishes food,
lodging, or both food and lodging to a person applying and paying
for the service.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 2155.052. LIABILITY FOR VALUABLES. (a) This section
applies only to a hotel, apartment hotel, or boardinghouse keeper
who:
(1) continuously maintains a metal safe or vault in the keeper's
hotel, apartment hotel, or boardinghouse that is in good order
and fit for the custody of money, jewelry, silver or gold
articles, precious stones, personal ornaments, or documents; and
(2) keeps suitable locks or bolts on the guests' sleeping room
doors and proper fastenings on the transom and window of guest
rooms.
(b) A hotel, apartment hotel, or boardinghouse keeper is not
liable for a loss or injury suffered by a guest from the loss of
valuables in an amount of more than $50 if:
(1) the valuables could reasonably have been kept in the safe or
vault of the hotel, apartment hotel, or boardinghouse;
(2) the loss or injury does not occur through the negligence or
wrongdoing of the keeper or an employee of the hotel, apartment
hotel, or boardinghouse; and
(3) a printed copy of this section is posted on the door of the
guest's sleeping room.
(c) Subsection (b) does not apply if:
(1) the guest offered to deliver the valuables to the hotel,
apartment hotel, or boardinghouse keeper for custody in the safe
or vault; and
(2) the hotel, apartment hotel, boarding hotel, or boardinghouse
keeper did not:
(A) deposit the valuables in the safe or vault; and
(B) issue a receipt for the valuables.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 2155.053. GRATUITOUS BAILEE. (a) A hotel, apartment
hotel, or boardinghouse keeper may hold a person's property,
including baggage, at the keeper's option and at the property
owner's risk if the property owner:
(1) forwards the property to the hotel, apartment hotel, or
boardinghouse before becoming a guest;
(2) leaves the property in the hotel, apartment hotel, or
boardinghouse lobby before checking the property or becoming a
guest; or
(3) allows the property to remain in the hotel, apartment hotel,
or boardinghouse after the innkeeper and guest relationship has
ceased and without checking the property.
(b) If a person checks property at a hotel, apartment hotel, or
boardinghouse and leaves the property at the hotel, apartment
hotel, or boardinghouse free of charge for one week without being
a guest, the hotel, apartment hotel, or boardinghouse keeper may,
absent a special agreement, continue to hold the property after
the first week at the property owner's risk.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.