By Oliveira, Solis H.B. No. 2781
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2781:
By Alexander C.S.H.B. No. 2781
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to permits for overweight vehicles in certain counties.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Chapter 623, Transportation Code is amended by
1-5 adding Subchapter K to read as follows:
1-6 SUBCHAPTER K. PORT AUTHORITY PERMITS
1-7 Sec. 623.210. OPTIONAL PROCEDURE. This subchapter provides
1-8 an optional procedure for the issuance of a permit for the movement
1-9 of oversize or overweight vehicles carrying cargo on state highways
1-10 located in counties contiguous to the Gulf of Mexico or a bay or
1-11 inlet opening into the gulf and bordering the United Mexican
1-12 States.
1-13 Sec. 623.211. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "port
1-14 authority" means a port authority created or operating under
1-15 Article III, Section 52, or Article XVI, .Section 59, of the Texas
1-16 Constitution.
1-17 Sec. 623.212. PERMITS BY PORT AUTHORITY. The department may
1-18 authorize a port authority to issue permits for the movement of
1-19 oversize or overweight vehicles carrying cargo on state highways
1-20 located in counties contiguous to the Gulf of Mexico or a bay or
1-21 inlet opening into the gulf and bordering the United Mexican
1-22 States.
1-23 Sec. 623.213. MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS. A port authority
1-24 issuing permits under this subchapter shall make payments to the
2-1 Texas Department of Transportation to provide funds for the
2-2 maintenance of state highways subject to this subchapter.
2-3 Sec. 623.214. PERMIT FEES. (a) A port authority may
2-4 collect a fee for permits issued under this subchapter. Such fees
2-5 shall not exceed $80.
2-6 (b) Fees collected under Subsection (a) shall be used solely
2-7 to provide funds for the payments provided for under Section
2-8 623.213 less administrative costs which shall not exceed 10 percent
2-9 of the fees collected. Such fees shall be deposited in State
2-10 Highway Fund 6.
2-11 Sec. 623.215. PERMIT REQUIREMENTS. (a) A permit issued
2-12 under this subchapter must include:
2-13 (1) the name of the applicant;
2-14 (2) the date of issuance;
2-15 (3) the signature of the director of the port
2-16 authority;
2-17 (4) a statement of the kind of cargo being transported
2-18 over State Highway 48 between the Gateway International Bridge and
2-19 the entrance to the Port of Brownsville, the maximum weight and
2-20 dimensions of the equipment, and the kind and weight of each
2-21 commodity to be transported provided the gross weight of such
2-22 equipment and commodities shall not exceed 125,000 pounds;
2-23 (5) a statement of any condition on which the permit
2-24 is issued;
2-25 (6) a statement that the cargo shall be transported
2-26 over the most direct route from the Gateway International Bridge to
2-27 the entrance of the Port of Brownsville using State Highway 48.
3-1 (b) A port authority shall report to the department all
3-2 permits issued under this subchapter.
3-3 Sec. 623.216. TIME OF MOVEMENT. A permit issued under this
3-4 subchapter shall specify the time in which movement authorized by
3-5 the permit is allowed.
3-6 Sec. 623.217. SPEED LIMIT. Movement authorized by a permit
3-7 issued under this subchapter shall not exceed the posted speed
3-8 limit or 55 miles per hour, whichever is less. Violation of this
3-9 provision shall constitute a moving violation.
3-10 Sec. 623.218. ENFORCEMENT. The Department of Public Safety
3-11 shall have authority to enforce the provisions of this subchapter.
3-12 Sec. 623.219. EXPIRATION. This Act will expire on March 1,
3-13 2001.
3-14 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
3-15 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-16 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-17 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-18 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three separate
3-19 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.