AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Under current law, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) can only issue 90-day permits for vehicles that haul electric poles and other equipment with a maximum length of 110 feet and a maximum height of 14 feet. Unfortunately, companies that haul these items year-round face unnecessary difficulties, as they are required to endure the hassle of continually going to their local TxDMV office to renew their permit every 90 days.

 

S.B. 562 amends the Transportation Code to authorize TxDMV to sell annual permits for the hauling of electric poles and other equipment of similar size. The proposed permit would cost $960.00, which is the same price as four 90-day permits. As with other permit fees, half of the permit cost would be allocated to the General Revenue Fund.

 

As proposed, S.B. 562 amends current law relating to annual permits to move certain equipment and authorizes a fee.

 

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 the heading to Section 623.071, Transportation Code, to read as follows:

 

Sec. 623.071. New heading: PERMIT TO MOVE CERTAIN EQUIPMENT.

 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 623.071, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (c-1), as follows:

 

(c-1) Authorizes the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue an annual permit that allows a person to operate over a state highway or road a vehicle or combination of vehicles that exceeds the length and height limits provided by law, except that:

 

(1) the maximum length allowed may not exceed 110 feet; and

 

(2) the maximum height allowed may not exceed 14 feet.

 

SECTION 3. Amends Sections 623.076(a) and (a-1), Transportation Code, as follows:

 

(a) Requires that an application for a permit under this subchapter be accompanied by a permit fee of:

 

(1)-(3) Makes no change to these subdivisions;

 

(4)-(5) Makes a nonsubstantive change;

 

(6) $960 for a permit issued under Section 623.071(c-1).

 

(a-1) Makes a conforming change to add the fee amount of $960 and the amount allocated to general revenue fund of $480 to the list of fees collected for certain permits.

 

SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.