79R8120 JRJ-F

By:  Hamric                                                       H.B. No. 1882



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to permits issued for moving certain heavy equipment over 
a state highway.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 623, Transportation Code, 
is amended by adding Section 623.0711 to read as follows:
	Sec. 623.0711.  SEALED OCEAN CONTAINERS.  (a) The department 
may consider sealed ocean containers to be superheavy equipment 
that cannot reasonably be dismantled.
	(b)  The Texas Transportation Commission shall by rule 
establish procedures to issue an annual permit for transporting 
sealed ocean containers over a state highway in the same manner as 
provided by Section 623.071.
	(c)  The Texas Transportation Commission may by rule 
establish procedures to issue a single trip permit for transporting 
sealed ocean containers over a state highway in the same manner as 
provided by Section 623.071.
	(d)  The fee for a permit issued under this section shall be 
sent to the comptroller for deposit to the credit of the state 
highway fund.  Fees deposited in the state highway fund under this 
section are exempt from the application of Section 403.095, 
Government Code.
	SECTION 2.  Section 621.102(e), Transportation Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(e)  A vehicle operating under a permit issued under Section 
623.011, 623.071, 623.0711, 623.094, 623.121, 623.142, 623.181, 
623.192, or 623.212 may operate under the conditions authorized by 
the permit over a road for which the commission has set a maximum 
weight under this section.
	SECTION 3.  Section 621.301(e), Transportation Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(e)  A vehicle operating under a permit issued under Section 
623.011, 623.071, 623.0711, 623.094, 623.121, 623.142, 623.181, 
623.192, or 623.212 may operate under the conditions authorized by 
the permit over a road for which the commissioners court has set a 
maximum weight under this section.
	SECTION 4.  Section 623.072(a), Transportation Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A municipality having a state highway in its territory 
shall designate to the department the route in the municipality to 
be used by equipment described by Section 623.071 or 623.0711
operating over the state highway.  The department shall show the 
designated route on each map routing the equipment.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.