TWT H.B. 1342 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS TRANSPORTATION H.B. 1342 By: Rodriguez 3-25-97 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND Currently under Section 621.206 (a), Transportation Code, a vehicle or combination of vehicles may not carry a load that extends more than three feet beyond its front or more than four feet beyond its rear. Several companies in Texas use a system called a piggyback material handler, a very common forklift that is attached to the rear of a semi-trailer for the use of loading and unloading materials from a trailer. Under the current statue these companies are in violation of Section 621.206 (a) because the forklift extends further than the current law allows. Some believe the safest method of transporting the forklift is by attaching it to the end of the trailer. The fact remains that doing so is a violation of the law. Enforcement of the law from district to district is not equally rendered. PURPOSE C.S.H.B. 1342 would allow a motor vehicle that is designed to be carried at the end of a trailer, and would extend no further than seven feet from the end of the trailer to operate on the highway. Also the designed vehicle would meet federal safety guidelines and state regulations. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 621, Transportation Code, by adding Section 621.2061 as follows: Notwithstanding Sec. 621.206, a trailer can carry a load which extends more than four feet beyond the rear of the trailer if the load: (1) is designed and intended to be carried at the rear of the trailer; (2) is used or intended to be used to load or unload a commodity; (3) does not exceed more than seven feet beyond the rear of the trailer; and (4) complies with each federal motor carrier safety regulation. SECTION 2. Effective date -- September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE SECTION 1. Creates new Sec. 621.2061 in place of Subsection (c) as proposed in the original. Original stated vehicle had to comply with requirements of federal regulations in Sec. 393.86 while substitute does not cite a specific citation regulation.