ENROLLED
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 105
BY REPRESENTATIVE HAVARD
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To create the Special Permit Task Force to study and make recommendations regarding
special permits issued by the Department of Transportation and Development for
oversize and overweight truck movement on state highways.
WHEREAS, Louisiana law provides for approximately twenty-eight statutory special
permits which allow for oversize and overweight truck movement on state highways, in
addition to other special permits issued by the Department of Transportation and
Development pursuant to interstate agreements; and
WHEREAS, the large majority of the special permits issued by the Department of
Transportation and Development apply to loads that exceed the weight limits ordinarily
applicable to vehicles traveling on the roads and bridges of this state, as set forth in R.S.
32:386; and
WHEREAS, studies have found that heavy loads, when traversing bridges on the
state highway system, can produce a significant strain on those bridges, which in turn can
lead to substantially increased maintenance needs; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana has nearly eight thousand bridges on the state highway
system, more than three thousand of which are past their fifty-year design life, including
more than three-fourths of state-owned timber bridges; and
WHEREAS, historically, the state has struggled to find adequate funds to maintain
or replace aging bridges on the state highway system, causing an increasing number of state
bridges to have to be load posted due to their condition, with the last count of such bridges
reaching five hundred sixty-seven; and
WHEREAS, deterioration of state bridges can create risks for the state and the
traveling public, including the commercial users of those bridges.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
create the Special Permit Task Force to meet and make recommendations to the legislature
Page 1 of 3 HCR NO. 105 ENROLLED
and the Department of Transportation and Development on actions necessary to accomplish
the following, as well as any additional recommendations that the task force may find
beneficial:
(1) Consolidate and simplify governing statutes applicable to special permits issued
by the Department of Transportation and Development for oversize and overweight truck
movement on state highways.
(2) Simplify the application process for special permits issued by the Department
of Transportation and Development for oversize and overweight truck movement on state
highways.
(3) Increase utilization of technology by the Department of Transportation and
Development when issuing permits for oversize and overweight truck movement on state
highways.
(4) Increase efficiencies in the Department of Transportation and Development's
issuance of permits for oversize and overweight truck movement on state highways.
(5) Adjust the costs of special permits issued by the Department of Transportation
and Development for oversize and overweight truck movement on state highways to fund
a bridge improvement program that targets deteriorating bridges on state routes of
significance to commerce in Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be comprised of the
following members:
(1) One member shall be the secretary of the Department of Transportation and
Development, or his designee, who shall be the chairman of the task force.
(2) One member shall be the superintendent of the office of state police, or his
designee.
(3) One member shall be appointed by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation.
(4) One member shall be appointed by the Louisiana Forestry Association.
(5) One member shall be appointed by the Louisiana Section, Air and Waste
Management Association.
(6) One member shall be appointed by the American Sugar Cane League.
(7) One member shall be appointed by the Louisiana Motor Transport Association.
Page 2 of 3 HCR NO. 105 ENROLLED
(8) One member shall be appointed by the Concrete and Aggregates Association of
Louisiana.
(9) One member shall be appointed by the Louisiana Railroad Association.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall convene its first meeting by
August 1, 2016, and shall meet, at a minimum, on a bimonthly basis. At the first meeting the
task force shall adopt rules of procedure, a work schedule, and any additional measures that
it deems necessary for the timely performance of its duties.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chairman of the task force shall cause notice
of each meeting of the task force to be provided to the speaker of the House of
Representatives, the president of the Senate, the chairman of the House Committee on
Transportation, Highways and Public Works, and the chairman of the Senate Committee on
Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force shall serve
without compensation, except per diem or expense reimbursement to which they may be
individually entitled as members of their respective organizations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit a written report and
recommendations to the House and Senate committees on transportation, highways and
public works, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the president of the Senate, and
the Department of Transportation and Development no later than February 1, 2017.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force will be staffed by Department of
Transportation and Development for all meetings of the task force.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be submitted to the
secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development, the superintendent of the
office of state police, the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, the Louisiana Forestry
Association, the Louisiana Section, Air and Waste Management Association, the American
Sugar Cane League, the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, and the Concrete and
Aggregates Association of Louisiana.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
Page 3 of 3