SRC-HRD S.B. 1276 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1276
By: Lucio
Internatinoal Relations, Trade & Technology
4-21-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

S.B. 1276 would authorize a port authority to collect a fee for issuing
permits for oversize or overweight trucks carrying cargo in certain areas
of Texas. This bill would require such a permit to specify the time in
which movement authorized by the permit is allowed.  This bill would
require permit fee revenues to be used for the maintenance of roads and
bridges.  In addition, S.B. 1487 would prohibit movement authorized by
permit from exceeding 55 miles per hour or the posted limit, whichever is
less. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1276 allows a port authority to issue permits for the
movement of oversize or overweight vehicles carrying cargo through
counties that have a boundary that is contiguous to the Republic of Mexico
and the Gulf of Mexico, and to collect a fee for the issuance of such
permits. This bill requires fees collected from the issuance of permits to
be used for the maintenance of roads and bridges. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 623, Transportation Code, by adding Subchapter
K, as follows: 

SUBCHAPTER K.  PORT AUTHORITY PERMITS

Sec. 623.210.  OPTIONAL PROCEDURE.  Provides that this subchapter provides
an optional procedure for issuance of a permit for the movement of
oversize or overweight vehicles carrying cargo on state, county, or
municipal roads located in counties that have a boundary that is
contiguous to the Republic of Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico. 

Sec.  DEFINITION.  Defines "port authority."

Sec. 623.212.  PERMITS BY PORT AUTHORITY.  Authorizes the Texas Department
of Transportation (department) to authorize a port authority to issue
permits for the movement of oversize or overweight vehicles carrying cargo
on state, county, or municipal roads located in counties that have a
boundary that is contiguous to the Republic of Mexico and the Gulf of
Mexico. 

Sec. 623.213.  MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS.  Requires a port authority issuing
permits under this subchapter to contract with the appropriate state
agency, political subdivision, or road district for the maintenance of
roads and bridges subject to this subchapter. 

Sec. 632.214.  PERMIT FEES.  Authorizes a port authority to collect a fee
for permits issued under this subchapter.  Requires a fee collected under
Subsection (a) to be used for the maintenance of roads and bridges
pursuant to maintenance contracts created under Section 632.213.   

 Sec. 632.215.  PERMIT REQUIREMENTS.  Requires a permit issued under this
subchapter to include certain information.  Requires a port authority to
report to the department all permits issued under this subchapter. 

Sec. 623.216.  TIME OF MOVEMENT.  Requires a permit issued under this
subchapter to specify the time in which movement authorized by the permit
is allowed. 

Sec. 623.217.  SPEED LIMIT.  Prohibits movement authorized by a permit
issued under this subchapter from exceeding the posted speed limit or 55
miles per hour, whichever is less. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.