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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain fees imposed in connection with the operation |
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of overweight and oversize vehicles. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 623, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 623.002 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 623.002. EVALUATION OF PERMIT FEES. (a) The |
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department shall evaluate highway use in this state by oversize or |
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overweight vehicles, calculate the cost of damage to highways in |
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this state caused by those vehicles, and determine whether: |
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(1) the fees charged for permits issued under this |
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chapter are adequate to offset the costs of damage to highways |
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caused by those vehicles and recommend any fee adjustments for the |
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permits to reflect the costs of damage to highways caused by those |
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vehicles; and |
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(2) vehicles currently exempt from permit |
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requirements under this chapter should be required to obtain a |
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permit to operate on roads or highways in this state. |
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(b) Not later than October 1 of each even-numbered year, the |
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department shall report its findings to: |
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(1) the Legislative Budget Board; and |
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(2) the governor. |
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SECTION 2. Section 623.077, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 623.077. HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE FEE. (a) An applicant |
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for a permit under this subchapter, other than a permit under |
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Section 623.071(c)(3), must also pay a highway maintenance fee in |
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an amount determined according to vehicle weight and distance |
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traveled. [the following table:
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[Vehicle Weight in Pounds
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Fee
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(b) The department shall adopt rules to implement this |
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section and establish a schedule of rates, based on miles traveled, |
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for all vehicle weight categories that provides for an increase in |
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the rates according to the weight of a vehicle. |
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(c) The department shall send each fee collected under |
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Subsection (a) to the comptroller for deposit to the credit of the |
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state highway fund. |
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SECTION 3. (a) The Texas Department of Transportation |
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shall adopt rules implementing Section 623.077, Transportation |
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Code, as amended by this Act, not later than January 1, 2012. |
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(b) Section 623.077(a), Transportation Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies only to an application for a permit submitted |
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under Subchapter D, Chapter 623, Transportation Code, to the Texas |
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Department of Transportation on or after January 1, 2012. An |
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application for a permit submitted before January 1, 2012, is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the application was |
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submitted, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |