By: Bonnen (Senate Sponsor - Huffman) H.B. No. 1305
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 11, 2011;
April 20, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on
Transportation and Homeland Security; May 17, 2011, reported
favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 17, 2011,
sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the issuance of oversize or overweight vehicle permits
by certain port authorities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 623.210, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 623.210. OPTIONAL PROCEDURE. This subchapter provides
an optional procedure for the issuance of a permit for the movement
of oversize or overweight vehicles carrying cargo on state highways
located in counties contiguous to the Gulf of Mexico or a bay or
inlet opening into the gulf and:
(1) adjacent to at least two counties with a
population of 550,000 or more; or
(2) bordering the United Mexican States.
SECTION 2. Section 623.211, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 623.211. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "port
authority" means a port authority or navigation district created or
operating under Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, Article
XVI, Texas Constitution.
SECTION 3. Section 623.212, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 623.212. PERMITS BY PORT AUTHORITY. The department
may authorize a port authority to issue permits for the movement of
oversize or overweight vehicles carrying cargo on state highways
located in counties contiguous to the Gulf of Mexico or a bay or
inlet opening into the gulf and:
(1) adjacent to at least two counties with a
population of 550,000 or more; or
(2) bordering the United Mexican States.
SECTION 4. Section 623.219, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 623.219. ROUTE DESIGNATION. (a) For a permit issued
by a port authority located in a county that borders the United
Mexican States, the [The] commission shall, with the consent of the
port authority, designate the most direct route from the Gateway
International Bridge or the Veterans International Bridge at Los
Tomates to the entrance of the Port of Brownsville using State
Highways 48 and 4 or United States Highways 77 and 83 or using
United States Highway 77 and United States Highway 83, East Loop
Corridor, and State Highway 4.
(b) For a permit issued by a port authority located in a
county that is adjacent to at least two counties with a population
of 550,000 or more, the commission shall, with the consent of the
port authority, designate the most direct route from:
(1) the intersection of Farm-to-Market Road 523 and
Moller Road to the entrance of Port Freeport using Farm-to-Market
Roads 523 and 1495;
(2) the intersection of State Highway 288 and Chlorine
Road to the entrance of Port Freeport using State Highway 288; and
(3) the intersection of State Highway 288 and Chlorine
Road to the entrance of Port Freeport using State Highways 288 and
332 and Farm-to-Market Roads 523 and 1495.
(c) If the commission designates a route or changes the
route designated under this section, the commission shall notify
the port authority of the route not later than the 60th day before
the date that the designation takes effect.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
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