By Uher                                         H.B. No. 1345

      75R5810 JD-F                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the issuance of an annual permit 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(c), Transportation Code, is

 1-6     amended to read as follows:

 1-7           (c)  The department may issue an annual permit to allow the

 1-8     operation on a state highway of equipment that exceeds weight and

 1-9     size limits provided by law for the movement of:

1-10                 (1)  an implement of husbandry by a dealer; [or]

1-11                 (2)  harvesting equipment being moved as part of an

1-12     agricultural operation; or

1-13                 (3)  superheavy or oversize equipment that:

1-14                       (A)  cannot reasonably be dismantled; and

1-15                       (B)  does not exceed:

1-16                             (i)  12 feet in width;

1-17                             (ii)  14 feet in height;

1-18                             (iii)  110 feet in length; or

1-19                             (iv)  120,000 pounds gross weight.

1-20           SECTION 2.  Section 623.074(b), Transportation Code, is

1-21     amended to read as follows:

1-22           (b)  The application must:

1-23                 (1)  be in writing;

1-24                 (2)  state the kind of equipment to be operated;

 2-1                 (3)  describe the equipment;

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

 2-3                 (5)  give the width, height, and length of the

 2-4     equipment;

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

 2-6     transported and the weight of the total load; and

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

 2-8           SECTION 3.  Section 623.076, Transportation Code, is amended

 2-9     by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as

2-10     follows:

2-11           (a)  An application for a permit under this subchapter must

2-12     be accompanied by a permit fee of:

2-13                 (1)  $30 for a single-trip permit;

2-14                 (2)  $60 for a permit that is valid for a period not

2-15     exceeding 30 days;

2-16                 (3)  $90 for a permit that is valid for a period of 31

2-17     days or more but not exceeding 60 days;

2-18                 (4)  $120 for a permit that is valid for a period of 61

2-19     days or more but not exceeding 90 days; or

2-20                 (5)  $135 for a permit issued under Section

2-21     623.071(c)(1) or (2).

2-22           (c)  An application for a permit under Section 623.071(c)(3)

2-23     must be accompanied by the permit fee established by the commission

2-24     for the permit, not to exceed $3,500.  Of each fee collected under

2-25     this subsection, the department shall send:

2-26                 (1)  the first $1,000 to the comptroller for deposit to

2-27     the credit of the general revenue fund; and

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

 3-2     for deposit to the credit of the state highway fund.

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

 3-4     amended to read as follows:

 3-5           (a)  An applicant for a permit under this subchapter, other

 3-6     than a permit under Section 623.071(c)(3), must also pay a highway

 3-7     maintenance fee in an amount determined according to the following

 3-8     table:

 3-9                 Vehicle Weight in Pounds                            Fee

3-10                 80,001 to 120,000                                  $ 50

3-11                 120,001 to 160,000                                 $ 75

3-12                 160,001 to 200,000                                 $100

3-13                 200,001 and above                                  $125

3-14           SECTION 5.  The importance of this legislation and the

3-15     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

3-16     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

3-17     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

3-18     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

3-19     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

3-20     passage, and it is so enacted.