BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	C.S.S.B. 1307
82R20701 JXC-D	By: Wentworth
	Transportation & Homeland Security
	4/18/2011
	Committee Report (Substituted)

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Under current law, in accordance with Section 362.901 (Free Use of Toll Project by Military Vehicles), Transportation Code, and Section 27.81(b), Administrative Code, marked, recognizable military vehicles may receive free passage on toll projects during time of war or other emergencies.  Unmarked vehicles that are leased, owned, or operated while conducting or training for emergency operations or conducting other military duties are subject to toll fees.

This presents the Adjutant General's Department (department) with numerous administrative challenges associated with reconciling toll charges and late fines the department is unauthorized to pay.

While Section 228.054(e) (relating to payment waivers), Transportation Code, provides that the Texas Department of Transportation may waive the requirement of the payment of a toll or may authorize a reduced toll for any vehicle or class of vehicles, the purpose of C.S.S.B. 1307 is that the toll fees for any vehicles owned, leased, or operated by Texas military forces on duty be waived.

Structurally, this could be addressed with toll tags that require no deposit or identifiable barcodes on the windshield.

C.S.S.B. 1307 amends current law relating to an exemption from the payment of a toll for unmarked military vehicles conducting or training for emergency operations.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 362.901(d), Transportation Code, to define "military vehicle."  Makes a nonsubstantive change.

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2011.