Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.

      Line and page numbers may not match official copy.

      By Counts                                       H.B. No. 2359

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the issuance of permits authorizing certain vehicles to

 1-3     exceed allowable size and weight.

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

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 623.011(c), Transportation Code, is

 1-6     amended to read as follows:

 1-7           (c)  A permit issued under this section:

 1-8                 (1)  is valid for one year;

 1-9                 (2)  must be carried in the vehicle for which it is

1-10     issued; and

1-11                 (3)  does not authorize the operation of a vehicle on:

1-12                       (A)  the national system of interstate and

1-13     defense highways in this state if the weight of that vehicle is [of

1-14     vehicles with a weight] greater than authorized by federal law; or

1-15                       (B)  a road, bridge, or culvert for which a

1-16     maximum weight and load limit have been established and posted by

1-17     the Texas Transportation Commission under Section 621.102 or a

1-18     commissioners court of a county under Section 621.301, if the gross

1-19     weight of that vehicle and load, gross weight of a combination of

1-20     vehicles and loads, axle, or wheel loads are greater than those

1-21     established and posted under those sections.

1-22           SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 623, Transportation Code,

1-23     is amended by adding Section 623.019 to read as follows:

1-24           Sec. 623.019.  PAYMENT OF FEES.  The Texas Transportation

 2-1     Commission may adopt rules for the payment of a fee under this

 2-2     subchapter.  The rules may:

 2-3                 (1)  authorize the use of electronic funds transfer;

 2-4                 (2)  authorize the use of a credit card issued by:

 2-5                       (A)  a financial institution chartered by a state

 2-6     or the United States; or

 2-7                       (B)  a nationally recognized credit organization

 2-8     approved by the Texas Transportation Commission; and

 2-9                 (3)  require the payment of a discount or service

2-10     charge for a credit card payment in addition to any fee prescribed

2-11     by this subchapter.

2-12           SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act apply to a

2-13     person possessing a valid permit issued under Section 623.011,

2-14     Transportation Code, before the effective date of this Act.

2-15           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-16     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-17     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-18     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-19     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

2-20     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

2-21     passage, and it is so enacted.