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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an optional procedure for the issuance of a permit by a |
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certain county for the movement of oversize or overweight vehicles. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 623, Transportation Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter Q to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER Q. HARRIS COUNTY PERMITS |
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Sec. 623.320. OPTIONAL PROCEDURE. This subchapter provides |
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an optional procedure for the issuance of a permit by Harris County |
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for the movement of oversize or overweight vehicles carrying cargo |
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on certain state highways located in Harris County. |
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Sec. 623.321. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "county" |
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means Harris County. |
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Sec. 623.322. ISSUANCE OF PERMITS. (a) The Texas |
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Transportation Commission may authorize the county to issue permits |
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for the movement of oversize or overweight vehicles carrying cargo |
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on state highways located in the county. |
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(b) A permit issued under this subchapter may authorize: |
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(1) the transport of cargo only on the following roads |
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in the county: |
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(A) State Highway 146 between its intersection |
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with Port Road and its intersection with State Highway 225; and |
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(B) State Highway 225 between its intersection |
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with State Highway 146 and its intersection with Beltway 8; and |
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(2) the movement of equipment and commodities weighing |
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100,000 pounds or less. |
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Sec. 623.323. MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS. The county shall make |
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payments to the department to provide funds for the maintenance of |
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state highways subject to this subchapter. |
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Sec. 623.324. PERMIT FEES. (a) The county may collect a |
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fee for permits issued under this subchapter. The fee may not |
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exceed $80 per trip. |
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(b) Fees collected under Subsection (a) may be used only to |
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provide funds for the payments under Section 623.323 and for the |
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county's administrative costs, which may not exceed 15 percent of |
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the fees collected. The fees shall be deposited in the state |
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highway fund. Fees deposited in the state highway fund under this |
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section are exempt from the application of Section 403.095, |
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Government Code. |
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Sec. 623.325. PERMIT REQUIREMENTS. (a) A permit issued |
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under this subchapter must include: |
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(1) the name of the applicant; |
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(2) the date of issuance; |
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(3) the signature of the designated agent for the |
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county; |
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(4) a statement of the kind of cargo being |
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transported, the maximum weight and dimensions of the equipment, |
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and the kind and weight of each commodity to be transported; |
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(5) a statement of any condition on which the permit is |
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issued; |
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(6) a statement that the cargo may be transported in |
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the county only over the roads described by Section 623.322(b)(1); |
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and |
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(7) the location where the cargo was loaded. |
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(b) The county shall report to the department all permits |
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issued under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 623.326. TIME OF MOVEMENT. A permit issued under this |
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subchapter must specify the time during which movement authorized |
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by the permit is allowed. |
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Sec. 623.327. SPEED LIMIT. Movement authorized by a permit |
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issued under this subchapter may not exceed the posted speed limit |
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or 55 miles per hour, whichever is less. A violation of this |
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provision constitutes a moving violation. |
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Sec. 623.328. ENFORCEMENT. The Department of Public Safety |
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has authority to enforce this subchapter. |
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Sec. 623.329. RULES. The Texas Transportation Commission |
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may adopt rules necessary to implement this subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |