By Uher                                               H.B. No. 1345

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the issuance of certain permits to move certain heavy

 1-3     equipment over a state highway.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 623.071, Transportation Code, is amended

 1-6     by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (f) to read as

 1-7     follows:

 1-8           (c)  The department may issue an annual permit to allow the

 1-9     operation on a state highway of equipment that exceeds weight and

1-10     size limits provided by law for the movement of:

1-11                 (1)  an implement of husbandry by a dealer; [or]

1-12                 (2)  water well drilling machinery and equipment or

1-13     harvesting equipment being moved as part of an agricultural

1-14     operation; or

1-15                 (3)  superheavy or oversize equipment that:

1-16                       (A)  cannot reasonably be dismantled; and

1-17                       (B)  does not exceed:

1-18                             (i)  12 feet in width;

1-19                             (ii)  14 feet in height;

1-20                             (iii)  110 feet in length; or

1-21                             (iv)  120,000 pounds gross weight.

1-22           (f)  A single trip permit that increases the height or width

1-23     limits established in Subsection (c)(3)(B)(i) or (ii) may be issued

1-24     by the department and used in conjunction with an annual permit

 2-1     issued under Subsection (c).

 2-2           SECTION 2.  Section 623.074(b), Transportation Code, is

 2-3     amended to read as follows:

 2-4           (b)  The application must:

 2-5                 (1)  be in writing;

 2-6                 (2)  state the kind of equipment to be operated;

 2-7                 (3)  describe the equipment;

 2-8                 (4)  give the weight of the equipment;

 2-9                 (5)  give the width, height, and length of the

2-10     equipment;

2-11                 (6) [(5)]  state the kind of commodity to be

2-12     transported and the weight of the total load; and

2-13                 (7) [(6)]  be dated and signed by the applicant.

2-14           SECTION 3.  Section 623.076, Transportation Code, is amended

2-15     by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as

2-16     follows:

2-17           (a)  An application for a permit under this subchapter must

2-18     be accompanied by a permit fee of:

2-19                 (1)  $30 for a single-trip permit;

2-20                 (2)  $60 for a permit that is valid for a period not

2-21     exceeding 30 days;

2-22                 (3)  $90 for a permit that is valid for a period of 31

2-23     days or more but not exceeding 60 days;

2-24                 (4)  $120 for a permit that is valid for a period of 61

2-25     days or more but not exceeding 90 days; or

2-26                 (5)  $135 for a permit issued under Section

2-27     623.071(c)(1) or (2).

 3-1           (c)  An application for a permit under Section 623.071(c)(3)

 3-2     must be accompanied by the permit fee established by the commission

 3-3     for the permit, not to exceed $3,500.  Of each fee collected under

 3-4     this subsection, the department shall send:

 3-5                 (1)  the first $1,000 to the comptroller for deposit to

 3-6     the credit of the general revenue fund; and

 3-7                 (2)  any amount in excess of $1,000 to the comptroller

 3-8     for deposit to the credit of the state highway fund.

 3-9           SECTION 4.  Section 623.077(a), Transportation Code, is

3-10     amended to read as follows:

3-11           (a)  An applicant for a permit under this subchapter, other

3-12     than a permit under Section 623.071(c)(3), must also pay a highway

3-13     maintenance fee in an amount determined according to the following

3-14     table:

3-15                 Vehicle Weight in Pounds                Fee

3-16                 80,001 to 120,000                      $ 50

3-17                 120,001 to 160,000                     $ 75

3-18                 160,001 to 200,000                     $100

3-19                 200,001 and above                      $125

3-20           SECTION 5.  The importance of this legislation and the

3-21     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

3-22     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

3-23     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

3-24     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

3-25     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

3-26     passage, and it is so enacted.