By Bosse H.B. No. 1679 77R3480 JD-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the operation of certain vehicle combinations that 1-3 exceed maximum weight limitations. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 622, Transportation Code, 1-6 is amended by adding Section 622.954 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 622.954. TOW TRUCKS. (a) A permit is not required to 1-8 exceed the weight limitations of Section 621.101 by a combination 1-9 of a tow truck and another vehicle or vehicle combination if: 1-10 (1) the nature of the service provided by the tow 1-11 truck is needed to remove disabled, abandoned, or accident-damaged 1-12 vehicles; and 1-13 (2) the tow truck is towing the other vehicle or 1-14 vehicle combination directly to the nearest authorized place of 1-15 repair, terminal, or vehicle storage facility. 1-16 (b) This section does not authorize the operation on the 1-17 national system of interstate and defense highways in this state of 1-18 vehicles with a weight greater than authorized by federal law. 1-19 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 1-20 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 1-21 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 1-22 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 1-23 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.