1-1 By: Armbrister S.B. No. 605 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed February 14, 1997; February 19, 1997, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs; 1-4 April 11, 1997, reported adversely, with favorable Committee 1-5 Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 13, Nays 0; April 11, 1997, 1-6 sent to printer.) 1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 605 By: Armbrister 1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-9 AN ACT 1-10 relating to the movement of portable building units and compatible 1-11 cargo over a state highway. 1-12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-13 SECTION 1. Subsection (f), Section 623.099, Transportation 1-14 Code, is amended to read as follows: 1-15 (f) An escort flag vehicle may not be required under this 1-16 subchapter except as expressly provided by this section. 1-17 SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 623, Transportation Code, 1-18 is amended by adding Sections 623.129 and 623.130 to read as 1-19 follows: 1-20 Sec. 623.129. ESCORT FLAG VEHICLE. The escort flag vehicle 1-21 requirements provided by Section 623.099 apply to the movement of 1-22 portable building units and compatible cargo under this subchapter 1-23 as if such building units and cargo were a manufactured house. 1-24 Sec. 623.130. COMPATIBLE CARGO. (a) A permit issued under 1-25 this subchapter may authorize the movement of cargo, other than a 1-26 portable building unit, manufactured, assembled, or distributed by 1-27 a portable building unit manufacturer, as an authorized distributor 1-28 if: 1-29 (1) the movement is conducted by employees of the 1-30 manufacturer or by independent drivers and equipment under 1-31 exclusive contract to the manufacturer during the movement; 1-32 (2) the movement is to or from a location where the 1-33 manufacturer's building units may be legally stored, sold, or 1-34 delivered; and 1-35 (3) the cargo is compatible with the movement of 1-36 portable building units in that: 1-37 (A) the cargo does not cause the load to exceed 1-38 applicable height or weight limits; and 1-39 (B) the cargo is loaded to properly distribute 1-40 weight, width, and height to maximize safety and economy without 1-41 exceeding size or weight limits authorized for movement of portable 1-42 building units. 1-43 (b) If cargo moved under this section exceeds any width 1-44 limit that would apply to the cargo if it were moved in a manner 1-45 not governed by this section, the department shall collect an 1-46 amount equal to any fee that would apply to movement of the cargo 1-47 if the cargo were moved in a manner not governed by this section in 1-48 addition to the fee required under this subchapter. 1-49 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 1-50 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 1-51 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-52 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-53 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-54 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 1-55 * * * * *