S.B. 1748 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 1748
By: Lucio
Transportation
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Overweight Corridor Program allows port-bound vehicles to
bypass the congested streets of Matamoros and Brownsville, clearing
customs within the Port of Brownsville's premises.  However, the permanent
solution to the problem of economically transporting overweight truckloads
from Mexico to the Port of Brownsville is to build the Port of Brownsville
International Rail and Truck bridge.  The United States Department of
State continues to work with the Mexican government to obtain approval to
commence construction on the bridge.  As proposed, S.B. 1748 provides that
the subchapter governing port authority permits expires June 1, 2007,
rather than the Act governing permits for oversize or overweight vehicles
expiring on March 1, 2005. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 623.219, Transportation Code, provide that the
subchapter expires June 1, 2007, rather than the Act expiring on March 1,
2005. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2003.