By: Davis S.B. No. 556
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a highway maintenance fee imposed in connection with
the operation of overweight vehicles or vehicle combinations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 623, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 623.003 to read as follow:
Sec. 623.003. HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE FEE FOR OPERATION OF
OVERWEIGHT VEHICLE UNDER PERMIT. (a) An applicant for a permit
issued by the department under this chapter must pay, in addition to
any other fee required by this chapter, a highway maintenance fee if
the vehicle or vehicle combination exceeds the weights authorized
under Subchapter B, Chapter 621.
(b) The Texas Transportation Commission shall adopt rules
to implement this section and establish a schedule of rates for the
highway maintenance fee, based on miles traveled, that provides for
graduated rates according to:
(1) the weight of the vehicle or vehicle combination;
and
(2) the amount of damage done by the vehicle or vehicle
combination to roads and bridges.
(c) The department shall send each fee collected under
Subsection (a) to the comptroller for deposit to the credit of the
state highway fund.
SECTION 2. Section 623.077, Transportation Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 3. (a) The Texas Transportation Commission shall
adopt rules implementing Section 623.003, Transportation Code, as
added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2012.
(b) Section 623.003(a), Transportation Code, as added by
this Act, applies only to an application for a permit submitted
under Chapter 623, Transportation Code, to the Texas Department of
Transportation on or after January 1, 2012. An application for a
permit submitted before January 1, 2012, is governed by the law in
effect on the date the application was submitted, and that former
law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
this section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
(b) Section 2 of this Act takes effect January 1, 2012.