LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  May 6, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Clyde Alexander, Chair            IN RE:  Senate Bill No. 1276, As Engrossed
          Committee on Transportation                              By: Lucio
          House
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB1276 ( Relating 
to permits for overweight vehicles in certain counties.) this 
office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB1276-As Engrossed
         
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net 
impact of $0 to General Revenue Related Funds through the biennium 
ending August 31, 1999.
         
Fiscal Analysis
 
The bill provides an optional procedure 
for the issuance of a permit for the movement of oversize or 
overweight vehicles carrying cargo on state, county, or municipal 
roads located in certain counties.
 
Methodology
 
The bill 
allows, as an option, for the port authority to issue overweight 
permits.  The Department of Transportation (TxDot) states that 
currently, these types of permits are issued by TxDOT's central 
permit office.  TxDOT ensures that each load meets federal criteria 
(must not be divisible into lesser loads) and provides designated 
routing to minimize damage to the infrastructure and provide 
the safest possible travel route.  TxDot stated that a program 
to automate this routing is currently underway by the department. 
 

TxDot stated that if the Transportation Commission did 
authorize the Port Authority to issue permits, the department 
could risk having federal funds sanctioned, due to federal statutes 
and rules concerning size and weight permits.
         
 
          
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   601   Department of Transportation
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,PE