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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the registration of certain motor vehicles as farm or |
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ranch vehicles. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 502.433, Transportation |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 502.433. FEE: COMMERCIAL FARM OR RANCH MOTOR VEHICLE. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 502.433(a) and (d), Transportation |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The registration fee for a commercial motor vehicle as a |
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farm vehicle or ranch vehicle is 50 percent of the applicable fee |
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under Section 502.252 or 502.253, as applicable, if the vehicle's |
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owner will use the vehicle for commercial purposes only to |
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transport: |
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(1) the person's own poultry, dairy, livestock, |
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livestock products, timber in its natural state, or farm products |
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to market or another place for sale or processing; |
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(2) laborers from their place of residence to the |
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owner's farm or ranch; or |
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(3) without charge, materials, tools, equipment, or |
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supplies from the place of purchase or storage to the owner's farm |
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or ranch exclusively for the owner's use or for use on the farm or |
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ranch. |
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(d) The department shall provide separate distinguishing |
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license plates for farm and ranch vehicles [a vehicle] registered |
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under this section. The department shall provide a person who |
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registers a vehicle under this section the option of designating |
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the vehicle as a farm vehicle or a ranch vehicle. |
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SECTION 3. Section 545.413(e), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(e) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that: |
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(1) the person possesses a written statement from a |
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licensed physician stating that for a medical reason the person |
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should not wear a safety belt; |
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(2) the person presents to the court, not later than |
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the 10th day after the date of the offense, a statement from a |
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licensed physician stating that for a medical reason the person |
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should not wear a safety belt; |
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(3) the person is employed by the United States Postal |
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Service and performing a duty for that agency that requires the |
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operator to service postal boxes from a vehicle or that requires |
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frequent entry into and exit from a vehicle; |
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(4) the person is engaged in the actual delivery of |
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newspapers from a vehicle or is performing newspaper delivery |
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duties that require frequent entry into and exit from a vehicle; |
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(5) the person is employed by a public or private |
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utility company and is engaged in the reading of meters or |
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performing a similar duty for that company requiring the operator |
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to frequently enter into and exit from a vehicle; |
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(6) the person is operating a commercial vehicle |
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registered as a farm or ranch vehicle under the provisions of |
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Section 502.433 that does not have a gross weight, registered |
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weight, or gross weight rating of 48,000 pounds or more; or |
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(7) the person is the operator of or a passenger in a |
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vehicle used exclusively to transport solid waste and performing |
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duties that require frequent entry into and exit from the vehicle. |
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SECTION 4. Section 622.074, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 622.074. NONAPPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. This |
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subchapter does not apply to: |
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(1) farm equipment used for a purpose other than |
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construction; |
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(2) special mobile equipment owned by a dealer or |
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distributor; |
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(3) a vehicle used to propel special mobile equipment |
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that is registered as a farm or ranch vehicle under Section 502.433; |
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or |
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(4) equipment while being used by a commercial hauler |
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to transport special mobile equipment under hire of a person who |
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derives $500 in gross receipts annually from a farming or ranching |
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enterprise. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |