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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a highway maintenance fee imposed in connection with |
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the operation of overweight vehicles or vehicle combinations. |
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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 623.003 to read as follow: |
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Sec. 623.003. HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE FEE FOR OPERATION OF |
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OVERWEIGHT VEHICLE UNDER PERMIT. (a) An applicant for a permit |
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issued by the department under this chapter must pay, in addition to |
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any other fee required by this chapter, a highway maintenance fee if |
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the vehicle or vehicle combination exceeds the weights authorized |
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under Subchapter B, Chapter 621. |
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(b) The Texas Transportation Commission shall adopt rules |
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to implement this section and establish a schedule of rates for the |
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highway maintenance fee, based on miles traveled, that provides for |
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graduated rates according to: |
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(1) the weight of the vehicle or vehicle combination; |
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and |
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(2) the amount of damage done by the vehicle or vehicle |
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combination to roads and bridges. |
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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 2. Section 623.077, Transportation Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 3. (a) The Texas Transportation Commission shall |
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adopt rules implementing Section 623.003, Transportation Code, as |
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added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2012. |
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(b) Section 623.003(a), Transportation Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies only to an application for a permit submitted |
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under Chapter 623, Transportation Code, to the Texas Department of |
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Transportation on or after January 1, 2012. An application for a |
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permit submitted before January 1, 2012, is governed by the law in |
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effect on the date the application was submitted, and that former |
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law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of |
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this section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |
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(b) Section 2 of this Act takes effect January 1, 2012. |