| 1 | 1 | | 85R5816 JRR-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Burns H.B. No. 3807 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the operation of vehicles transporting agricultural |
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| 8 | 8 | | products; authorizing a fee. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 623, Transportation Code, |
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| 11 | 11 | | is amended by adding Section 623.0172 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 623.0172. PERMIT FOR VEHICLES TRANSPORTING |
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| 13 | 13 | | AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. (a) The department shall issue a permit |
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| 14 | 14 | | that authorizes the operation of a vehicle or combination of |
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| 15 | 15 | | vehicles at a gross weight that is not heavier than 90,000 pounds |
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| 16 | 16 | | if: |
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| 17 | 17 | | (1) the vehicle or combination of vehicles is being |
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| 18 | 18 | | used to transport agricultural products that are in their natural |
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| 19 | 19 | | state; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | (2) the agricultural products are being transported |
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| 21 | 21 | | from the place of production to the place of first marketing or |
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| 22 | 22 | | first processing. |
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| 23 | 23 | | (b) To qualify for a permit under this section, a permit fee |
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| 24 | 24 | | of $25 must be paid. |
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| 25 | 25 | | (c) A permit issued under this section: |
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| 26 | 26 | | (1) is valid only for the specific agricultural |
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| 27 | 27 | | products authorized to be transported under the permit and only |
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| 28 | 28 | | during the harvest season of those products, as determined by the |
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| 29 | 29 | | department by rule; and |
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| 30 | 30 | | (2) must be carried in the vehicle for which it is |
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| 31 | 31 | | issued. |
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| 32 | 32 | | (d) The department by rule shall determine the harvest |
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| 33 | 33 | | season of each agricultural product authorized to be transported |
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| 34 | 34 | | under permits issued under this section. |
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| 35 | 35 | | (e) A vehicle issued a permit under this section may operate |
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| 36 | 36 | | on a state or county road if the vehicle does not exceed the maximum |
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| 37 | 37 | | gross weight authorized under Subsection (a). |
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| 38 | 38 | | (f) This section does not authorize the operation on the |
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| 39 | 39 | | national system of interstate and defense highways in this state of |
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| 40 | 40 | | a vehicle of a size or weight greater than those permitted under 23 |
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| 41 | 41 | | U.S.C. Section 127. |
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| 42 | 42 | | (g) If the United States authorizes the operation on the |
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| 43 | 43 | | national system of interstate and defense highways of a vehicle of a |
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| 44 | 44 | | size or weight greater than those permitted under 23 U.S.C. Section |
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| 45 | 45 | | 127 on September 1, 2017, the new limit automatically takes effect |
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| 46 | 46 | | on the national system of interstate and defense highways in this |
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| 47 | 47 | | state. |
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| 48 | 48 | | (h) The department may adopt rules necessary to implement |
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| 49 | 49 | | this section, including rules governing the application for a |
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| 50 | 50 | | permit under this section. |
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| 51 | 51 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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