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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the movement of vehicles transporting ocean cargo |
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shipping containers; authorizing a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 623, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 623.0172 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 623.0172. OCEAN CARGO SHIPPING CONTAINERS. (a) In |
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this section, "ocean cargo shipping container" means an enclosed, |
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standardized, reusable container that: |
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(1) is used to pack, ship, move, or transport cargo; |
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(2) is designed to be carried on a trailer or |
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semitrailer and loaded onto a vessel for ocean-borne |
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transportation; and |
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(3) when combined with vehicles transporting the |
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container, has a gross weight that exceeds the limits allowed by law |
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to be transported over a state highway. |
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(b) The department may issue an annual permit for the |
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movement of a sealed ocean cargo shipping container moving in |
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overseas international commerce on a trailer or semitrailer with |
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three axles if the combination of vehicles transporting the |
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container has: |
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(1) a single axle weight of not more than 20,000 |
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pounds; |
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(2) a tandem axle weight of not more than 40,000 |
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pounds; |
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(3) a tri-axle weight of not more than 60,000 pounds; |
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and |
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(4) a gross weight of not more than 97,000 pounds. |
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(c) The department shall restrict vehicles operating under |
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a permit under this section to routes that: |
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(1) do not include: |
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(A) roadways or bridges that the department |
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determines through sound engineering principles should not be used |
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for overweight vehicles; or |
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(B) federal highways, if the department |
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determines that the operation of a vehicle under a permit under this |
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section on those highways would result in the loss of federal |
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highway funding; and |
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(2) end at a facility in this state at which the sealed |
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container will be loaded on a ship or train in the course of |
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overseas international shipment. |
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(d) The department may adopt rules necessary to implement |
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this section, including rules: |
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(1) governing application for a permit under this |
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section; and |
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(2) requiring additional safety and driver training. |
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(e) The department shall set the amount of the fee for an |
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annual permit issued under this section in an amount not to exceed |
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$7,000, of which: |
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(1) 90 percent shall be deposited to the credit of the |
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state highway fund; and |
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(2) 10 percent shall be deposited to the credit of the |
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Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2016. |