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.