Amend CSHB 300 (house committee printing) by adding the 
following ARTICLE to the bill, appropriately numbered, and 
renumbering subsequent ARTICLES accordingly:
ARTICLE ____. MOTOR CARRIER OVERSIZE AND
OVERWEIGHT PERMITS
SECTION ____.01. Subchapter D, Chapter 623, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 623.0711 to read as follows: Sec. 623.0711. PERMITS AUTHORIZED BY COMMISSION ORDER. (a) The commission by order may authorize the department to issue a permit to a motor carrier, as defined by Section 643.001, to transport multiple loads of the same commodity over a state highway if all of the loads are traveling from and to the same general locations. (b) The commission may not authorize the issuance of a permit that would violate federal regulations on size and weight requirements or authorize the issuance of a permit for equipment that could reasonably be dismantled for transportation as separate loads. (c) To be eligible for a permit under this section, the department must determine that the state will benefit from the issuance of this type of expedited permitting process. (d) Before the commission may adopt an order under this section, the department must complete a route and engineering study that considers: (1) the estimated number of loads to be transported by the motor carrier under the permit; (2) the size and weight of the commodity; (3) available routes that can accommodate the size and weight of the vehicle and load to be transported; (4) the potential roadway damage caused by repeated use of the road by the permitted vehicle; (5) any disruption caused by the movement of the permitted vehicle; and (6) safety to the traveling public. (e) The commission may impose on the motor carrier any condition regarding routing, time of travel, axle weight, and escort vehicles necessary to ensure safe operation and minimal damage to the roadway. (f) A permit issued under this section may provide multiple routes to reach the destination to minimize damage to the roadways. (g) The commission shall require the motor carrier to file a bond in an amount set by the commission, payable to the department and conditioned on the motor carrier paying to the department any damage that is sustained to a state highway because of the operation of a vehicle under a permit issued under this section. (h) The fee for a permit under this section may not exceed $7,000. (i) The executive director or the executive director's designee may suspend a permit issued under this section or alter a designated route because of: (1) a change in pavement conditions; (2) a change in traffic conditions; (3) a geometric change in roadway configuration; (4) construction or maintenance activity; or (5) emergency or incident management. (j) Permits issued under this section are subject to the administrative sanctions of Subchapter N. SECTION ____.02 Section 623.071, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subsection (h) to read as follows: (h) On completion of a route and engineering study, a single trip permit that exceeds the length established by Subsection (c) may be issued by the department and used in conjunction with an annual permit issued under Subsection (c) if the department determines that the additional length can be transported safely.