BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

S.B. 524

By: Hegar

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

In order to help ensure that local businesses can transport materials and finished products without unnecessary delay and that the state is properly reimbursed for related maintenance costs, S.B. 524 seeks to expand the area in which the Texas Transportation Commission may authorize Victoria County Navigation District to issue permits allowing oversize or overweight vehicles to transport goods on certain specified highways and roads in Victoria County.

 

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

 

S.B. 524 amends the Transportation Code to limit the authorization that may be granted to the Victoria County Navigation District by the Texas Transportation Commission for the issuance of permits allowing the movement of oversize or overweight vehicles carrying cargo to the issuance of permits for the movement of such vehicles carrying cargo on the following specifically designated highways and roads in Victoria County: Farm-to-Market Road 1432 between the Port of Victoria and State Highway 185; State Highway 185 between U.S. Highway 59 and McCoy Road; U.S. Highway 59, including a frontage road of U.S. Highway 59, between State Highway 185 and Loop 463; and Loop 463 between U.S. Highway 59 and North Lone Tree Road.  The bill increases the cap on the permit fee to be collected by the district from $80 to $100 per trip.

 

S.B. 524 adds the signature of the district director's designee as an alternative to the director's signature that is required on a permit; requires the permit to include a statement acknowledging that the cargo's transport is limited to the four roads as specifically designated by statute, as amended by the bill, rather than the specific roads as designated in the permit; and removes provisions in certain permit statements identifying the specific roads over which the transport of cargo is permitted or prohibited.  The bill increases from 125,000 pounds to 140,000 pounds the cap on the gross weight of equipment and commodities to be transported under such a permit as stated in the permit.  The bill makes conforming changes.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2011.