SRC-TNM S.C.R. 24 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.C.R. 24 By: Truan International Relations, Trade & Technology 2-27-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, a state may impose more stringent safety and environmental regulations on commercial vehicles using their roadways. However, such regulations must be "imposed in an equitable and nondiscriminatory manner" on all domestic and foreign vehicles. The goal is to establish a uniform system of registration and licensing for all carriers to eliminate confusion and layers of red tape. The 74th Texas Legislature passed several laws requiring Mexican carriers doing business beyond the border commercial zones to meet the same safety and insurance requirements as U.S. and Canadian truckers. These bills also made Texas truck regulations consistent with the provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Presently, U.S. and Mexican government officials continue to negotiate the opening of U.S. border states to Mexican trucks and to address concerns regarding Mexican truck safety. A continued project conducted in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico aspires to standardize commercial vehicle and operator standards. The task of finding common definitions and compatible regulations has been allocated to the Land Transportation Standard Subcommittee. The goal of S.C.R. 24 is to ensure that due consideration and protection are given to Texas' current standards regarding overweight trucks and their impact on Texas roads during federal discussions on weight lengths and standards. PURPOSE As proposed, S.C.R. 24 submits the following resolutions: To direct the Texas Department of Transportation to monitor national-level discussions addressing truck weight and length standards adopted pursuant to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). To provide that the Texas Department of Transportation should resist current efforts to influence the NAFTA Land Transportation Subcommittee to permit overweight trucks and multiple trailers on U.S. highways, and that Texas' current standards should be honored and continued in order to protect the safety of our state's citizens and the integrity of the public investment in highway and bridge infrastructure. To forward an official copy of this resolution to the executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation.