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.