BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                           H.B. 3088

                                                                                                                                          By: Phillips

                                                                                                                                     Transportation

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

In 1995, House Bill 1547 changed the fee structure for motor carriers using the 2060 permits.  In addition to the annual base fee of $75, and the $5 administrative fee, an additional fee was added for motor carriers based on the number of counties selected for travel.  These additional fees ranged from $125 to $2000 based on the total number of counties listed on the permit.  The fees have not been adjusted since 1995.  Many counties have serious road maintenance issues with their county roads due to damage caused by overweight trucks (It is estimated that one 80,000 pound truck has  approximately the same road impact as 6,000 cars) and are in need of more financial resources to help repair damaged roads.

 

HB 3088 would provide counties with additional financial resources to improve county roads damaged by overweight trucks.  HB 3088 restructures only those fees pertaining to the counties traveled and listed on the 2060 permit.  These fees will be dedicated to State Highway Fund and distributed to the counties listed on the permit. 

 

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 621.353(c), Transportation Code to provide that each fee collected under Section 623.0111, Transportation Code, shall be deposited to the credit of the state highway fund.  This money may be only be distributed by the comptroller to the counties designated on the application for the permit.

 

SECTION 2 amends Section 623.0111(a), Transportation Code to increase the annual fees for a permit in which the number of counties designated does not exceed 80.  The annual fees for a permit in which the number of counties designated exceeds 80 are reduced.

 

SECTION 3 provides that changes in law made by this Act apply only to an application for a permit that is filed on or after September 1, 2007.

 

SECTION 4 Effective date.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2007.