SRC-SEW S.B. 1809 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1809 77R9638 JD-DBy: Zaffirini State Affairs 4/26/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, FM 1472 and Bob Bullock Loop (Loop 20) provide the most direct route from IH-35 to the World Trade and Columbia Solidarity international bridges and are within the city limits of Laredo. The Texas Department of Transportation (department) issues permits to allow overweight trucks to transport cargo over these roads, but the permits are not issued locally. As proposed, S.B. 1809 would allow the department to authorize the City of Laredo to issue permits for overweight and oversize vehicles on FM 1472 and Bob Bullock Loop. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 623, Transportation Code, by adding Subchapter L, as follows: SUBCHAPTER L. CITY OF LAREDO PERMITS Sec. 623.251. PERMITS BY CITY OF LAREDO. Authorizes the Texas Department of Transportation (department) to authorize the City of Laredo to issue permits for the movement of oversize or overweight vehicles carrying cargo on Farm-to-Market Road 1472 and the Bob Bullock Loop (Loop 20) from Columbia Solidarity Bridge and the World Trade Bridge to Interstate Highway 35. Prohibits the department from authorizing the issuance of a permit for the movement of equipment and commodities with a gross weight of more than 125,000 pounds. Sec. 623.252. MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS. Authorizes permit fees collected under this subchapter, if the City of Laredo issues permits under this subchapter, to be used only to fund the maintenance of the state highways subject to this subchapter. Sec. 623.253. PERMIT FEES. Provides that the amount of the fee for a permit issued under this subchapter is the fee otherwise required for a permit issued by the department under this chapter for the oversize or overweight vehicle. Prohibits the City of Laredo from collecting an extra fee for issuing a permit under this subchapter. Requires fees collected under this section to be sent to the department for deposit to the credit of the state highway fund. Sec. 623.254. PERMIT REQUIREMENTS. Requires a permit issued under this subchapter to include certain items. Requires the City of Laredo to report to the department all permits issued under this subchapter. Sec. 623.255. TIME OF MOVEMENT. Requires a permit issued under this subchapter to specify the time in which movement authorized by the permit is allowed. Sec. 623.256. SPEED LIMIT. Prohibits movement authorized by a permit issued under this subchapter from exceeding the lesser of the posted speed limit or 55 miles per hour. Provides that an offense under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor and a moving violation. Sec. 623.257. ENFORCEMENT. Authorizes the Department of Public Safety to enforce this subchapter. Sec. 623.258. EXPIRATION. Provides that this subchapter expires March 1, 2005. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.