BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

H.B. 1795

82R18282 NAJ-F

By: Aliseda (Hinojosa)

 

Transportation & Homeland Security

 

5/6/2011

 

Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently, a permit issued by the Texas Department of Transportation for the movement of oil well servicing or drilling machinery applies to a single vehicle. The law does not address occasions when an oil well servicing or drilling machine needs to pull a small trailer to move equipment used in conjunction with servicing or drilling at a well site.  H.B. 1795 seeks to address this issue by allowing a trailer to be included on a permit to move oil well servicing or drilling machinery if certain conditions are met, including that the vehicle combination will not cause damage to the highway or serious inconvenience to highway traffic.

 

H.B. 1795 amends current law relating to permits issued for moving certain oil well servicing or drilling machinery.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Texas Transportation Commission is modified in SECTION 3 (Section 623.145, Transportation Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 623.142, Transportation Code, by adding Subsections (a-1) and (c) and amending Subsection (b), as follows:

 

(a-1)  Authorizes the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to include a trailer on a permit issued under this section if:

 

(1)  the registration fee required by Section 502.166 (Fee: Trailer or Semitrailer) for the trailer is paid for the current registration year;

 

(2)  the gross weight authorized by the permit does not exceed 86,000 pounds; and

 

(3)  the axle weights authorized by the permit comply with the requirements prescribed by Section 621.101 (Maximum Weight of Vehicle or Combination).

 

(b)  Prohibits TxDOT from issuing a permit under this section unless the vehicle or vehicle combination may be moved without material damage to the highway or serious inconvenience to highway traffic.

 

(c)  Provides that a permit issued under Subsection (a-1) does not authorize the operation of a vehicle or vehicle combination on the national system of interstate and defense highways in this state.

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 623.143, Transportation Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 623.143.  DESIGNATED ROUTE IN MUNICIPALITY.  (a)  Authorizes a municipality having a state highway in its territory to designate to TxDOT the route in the municipality to be used by a vehicle or vehicle combination described by Section 623.142 (Permit to Move Oil Well Servicing or Drilling Machinery) operating over the state highway.  Makes a conforming change.

 

(b)-(c) Makes conforming changes.

 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 623.145(b), Transportation Code, as follows:

 

(b)  Requires the Texas Transportation Commission, in adopting a rule or establishing a fee, to consider and be guided by certain things, including the registration or license fee paid on the vehicles, rather than on the vehicle, for which the permit is requested.

 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 623.146, Transportation Code, to make conforming changes.

 

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 623.148(b), Transportation Code, to make conforming changes.

 

SECTION 6.  Effective date: September 1, 2011.