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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study by the Texas Department of Transportation on the |
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impact of certain classifications of motor vehicle on the roads and |
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bridges of this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "department" means the |
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Texas Department of Transportation. |
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SECTION 2. STUDY AND REPORT. (a) The department, in |
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consultation with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, The |
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University of Texas Center for Transportation Research, and |
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transportation industry representatives, shall conduct a study on |
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the impact on the roads and bridges of this state by motor vehicles |
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classified as: |
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(1) passenger vehicles; |
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(2) commercial motor vehicles; and |
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(3) oversize or overweight vehicles. |
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(b) The study shall determine, for each classification of |
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vehicle listed in Subsection (a) of this section: |
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(1) the number of vehicles that drive on the roads and |
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bridges of this state each year; |
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(2) the number of miles driven on the roads and bridges |
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of this state each year; |
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(3) the total revenue contribution from taxes and fees |
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to the construction and maintenance of the roads and bridges of this |
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state; |
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(4) the financial impact due to costs associated with: |
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(A) construction and maintenance of the roads and |
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bridges of this state; and |
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(B) congestion on the roads and bridges of this |
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state; and |
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(5) whether and by what amount the total revenue |
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contribution determined under Subdivision (3) of this subsection |
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exceeds or falls short of the financial impact determined under |
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Subdivision (4) of this subsection. |
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(c) The study shall assess the overall economic benefits to |
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the economy of this state of: |
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(1) commercial motor vehicles; and |
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(2) oversize or overweight vehicles. |
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(d) The study shall recommend one or more changes to |
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existing tax or fee structures to ensure that vehicles of each |
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classification listed under Subsection (a) of this section |
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contribute revenue to fund the construction and maintenance of the |
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roads and bridges of this state in an amount at least equal to the |
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financial impact of the vehicles of that classification on those |
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roads and bridges. The recommendations shall include: |
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(1) specific dollar amounts for taxes and fees for |
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each classification of vehicle; and |
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(2) if applicable, new methods of structuring existing |
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sources of revenue. |
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(e) Not later than December 1, 2022, the department shall |
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submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the |
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legislature a written report on the findings of the study. The |
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report must include recommendations for policy and statutory |
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changes, including any proposed legislation, that are based on the |
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results of the study. |
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SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. This Act expires May 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |