By Duncan S.B. No. 1631
75R7962 T
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the issuance of permits for the movement of oversize
1-3 and overweight vehicles.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 621.003, Transportation Code, is amended
1-6 by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
1-7 (d) The department may contract with a third-party to act as
1-8 the department's agent in the processing of a permit application
1-9 and the distribution of a permit issued by the department under
1-10 this section.
1-11 (e) An agreement entered into under this section may provide
1-12 for a third-party to act as the agent of each state in the
1-13 processing of a permit application and the distribution of a permit
1-14 issued by a state under this section.
1-15 SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 621, Transportation Code,
1-16 is amended by adding Section 621.356 to read as follows:
1-17 Sec. 621.356. FORM OF PAYMENT. The Texas Transportation
1-18 Commission may adopt rules prescribing the method for payment of a
1-19 fee for a permit issued by the department that authorizes the
1-20 operation of a vehicle and its load or a combination of vehicles
1-21 and load exceeding size or weight limitations. The rules may:
1-22 (1) authorize the use of electronic funds transfer or
1-23 a credit card issued by:
1-24 (A) a financial institution chartered by a state
2-1 or the federal government; or
2-2 (B) a nationally recognized credit organization
2-3 approved by the Texas Transportation Commission; and
2-4 (2) require the payment of a discount or service
2-5 charge for a credit card payment in addition to the fee.
2-6 SECTION 3. Section 623.073, Transportation Code, is
2-7 repealed.
2-8 SECTION 4. Section 623.074(b) and (c), Transportation Code,
2-9 are amended to read as follows:
2-10 (b) The application must:
2-11 (1) be in writing;
2-12 (2) state the kind of equipment to be operated;
2-13 (3) describe the equipment;
2-14 (4) give the weight and dimensions of the equipment;
2-15 (5) state the kind of commodity to be transported and
2-16 weight of the total load; and
2-17 (6) be dated and signed by the applicant.
2-18 (c) An application for a permit under Section 623.071(a) or
2-19 (b) must also also state:
2-20 (1) each highway [and the distance] over which the
2-21 equipment is to be operated, if the permit is for a single-trip; or
2-22 (2) the region or area, as required by rule, over
2-23 which the equipment is to be operated, if the permit is for other
2-24 than a single-trip.
2-25 SECTION 5. Section 623.076(b), Transportation Code, is
2-26 amended to read as follows:
2-27 (b) The Texas Transportation Commission may adopt rules for
3-1 the payment of a fee under Subsection (a). The rules may:
3-2 (1) authorize the use of electronic funds transfer;
3-3 (2) [(1)] authorize the use of a credit card issued
3-4 by:
3-5 (A) a financial institution chartered by a state
3-6 or the United States; or
3-7 (B) a nationally recognized credit organization
3-8 approved by the Texas Transportation Commission; and
3-9 (3) [(2)] require the payment of a discount or service
3-10 charge for a credit card payment in addition to the fee prescribed
3-11 by Subsection (a).
3-12 SECTION 6. Section 623.080(b), Transportation Code, is
3-13 amended to read as follows:
3-14 (B) A permit issued under Section 623.071(a) or (b) must
3-15 also state:
3-16 (1) each highway [and the distance] over which the
3-17 equipment is to be transported, if the permit is for a single-trip;
3-18 or
3-19 (2) the region or area, as required by rule, over
3-20 which the equipment is to be operated, if the permit is for other
3-21 than a single-trip.
3-22 SECTION 7. Section 623.081(c), Transportation Code, is
3-23 amended to read as follows:
3-24 (c) An applicant for a permit under this section must
3-25 provide by telephone to [an agent designated by] the department
3-26 [under Section 623.073]:
3-27 (1) the information required for a permit issued under
4-1 Section 623.071(a) or (b), other than the applicant's signature;
4-2 and
4-3 (2) the account number of a credit card approved by
4-4 the department.
4-5 SECTION 8. Section 623.125, Transportation Code, is
4-6 repealed.
4-7 SECTION 9. The importance of this legislation and the
4-8 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-9 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-10 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-11 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.