Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E. Line and page numbers may not match official copy. By: Lucio S.B. No. 1276 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to permits for overweight vehicles in certain counties. 1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-3 SECTION 1. Chapter 623, Transportation Code is amended by 1-4 adding Subchapter K to read as follows: 1-5 SUBCHAPTER K. PORT AUTHORITY PERMITS 1-6 Sec. 623.210. Optional Procedure. 1-7 This subchapter provides an optional procedure for the 1-8 issuance of a permit for the movement of oversize or overweight 1-9 vehicles carrying cargo on state, county, or municipal roads 1-10 located in counties that have a boundary that is contiguous to the 1-11 Republic of Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico. 1-12 Sec. 623.211. Definition. 1-13 In this subchapter, "port authority" means a port authority 1-14 created or operating under Article III, Section 52, or Article XVI, 1-15 Section 59, of the Texas Constitution. 1-16 Sec. 623.212. Permits by Port Authority. 1-17 The department may authorize a port authority to issue 1-18 permits for the movement of oversize or overweight vehicles 1-19 carrying cargo on state, county, or municipal roads located in 1-20 counties that have a boundary that is contiguous to the Republic of 1-21 Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico. 1-22 Sec. 623.213. Maintenance Contracts. 1-23 A port authority issuing permits under this subchapter shall 2-1 contract with the appropriate state agency, political subdivision, 2-2 or road district for the maintenance of roads and bridges subject 2-3 to this subchapter. 2-4 Sec. 623.214. Permit Fees. 2-5 (a) A port authority may collect a fee for permits issued 2-6 under this subchapter. 2-7 (b) A fee collected under Subsection (a) shall be used for 2-8 the maintenance of roads and bridges pursuant to maintenance 2-9 contracts created under Section 623.213. 2-10 Sec. 623.215. Permit Requirements. 2-11 (a) A permit issued under this subchapter must include: 2-12 (1) the name of the applicant; 2-13 (2) the date of issuance; 2-14 (3) the signature of the director of the port 2-15 authority; 2-16 (4) a statement of the kind of cargo being transported 2-17 over the state, county, or municipal road, the maximum weight and 2-18 dimensions of the equipment, and the kind and weight of each 2-19 commodity to be transported; 2-20 (5) a statement of any condition on which the permit 2-21 is issued; 2-22 (6) a statement of each state, county, or municipal 2-23 road and bridge, and the distance over which the cargo is to be 2-24 transported. 2-25 (b) A port authority shall report to the department all 3-1 permits issued under this subchapter. 3-2 Sec. 623.216. Time of Movement. 3-3 A permit issued under this subchapter shall specify the time 3-4 in which movement authorized by the permit is allowed. 3-5 Sec. 623.217. Speed Limit. 3-6 Movement authorized by a permit issued under this subchapter 3-7 shall not exceed the posted speed limit or 55 miles per hour, 3-8 whichever is less. 3-9 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 3-10 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 3-11 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-12 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-13 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-14 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.