BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1274

By: Pena

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, marked and recognizable military vehicles are allowed free use of a toll project, but unmarked military vehicles, such as those used by the adjutant general's department while conducting or training for emergency operations, are subject to tolls because it is unclear that they qualify for the exemption.  This presents administrative challenges for the Texas Department of Transportation, according to department staff, because the toll charges and late fines must be reconciled to account for the exemption.  C.S.H.B. 1274 seeks to provide clarity by redefining "military vehicle," for purposes relating to an exemption from the payment of a toll, to include an unmarked military vehicle used for certain purposes.      

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

C.S.H.B. 1274 amends the Transportation Code to define "military vehicle," for purposes of provisions of law relating to free use of a toll project by military vehicles, to include an unmarked military vehicle operated by military personnel conducting an emergency preparedness, response, or recovery operation or participating in a training exercise for such an operation. The bill specifies that the term does not include a vehicle operated for personal use.  The bill makes a conforming change.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 1274 contains a provision not included in the original specifying that the definition of  "military vehicle" for purposes relating to an exemption from the payment of a toll does not include a vehicle operated for personal use.