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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 sealed ocean |
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cargo 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. SEALED OCEAN CARGO SHIPPING CONTAINERS. (a) |
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In this section, "sealed ocean cargo shipping container" means an |
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enclosed, 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 |
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this subtitle. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (g), the department |
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shall issue an annual permit for the movement of a sealed ocean |
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cargo shipping container moving in overseas international commerce |
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on a trailer or semitrailer with three axles if the combination of |
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vehicles transporting the 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 34,000 |
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pounds; |
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(3) a tri-axle weight of not more than 51,000 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 issued under this section to routes that are on highways in |
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the state highway system and are not more than five miles from any |
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border between this state and another state. |
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(d) An applicant for a permit under this section must |
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designate each Texas Department of Transportation district in which |
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the permit will be used. |
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(e) The department shall set the amount of the fee for a |
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permit issued under this section in an amount not to exceed $2,000, |
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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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(f) A fee deposited under Subsection (e)(1) may only be used |
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for transportation projects in the Texas Department of |
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Transportation district designated in the permit application for |
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which the fee was assessed. |
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(g) The department may not issue a permit under this section |
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if the department determines that the operation of a vehicle under a |
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permit authorized by this section would result in the loss of |
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federal highway funding. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |