85R3102 JRR-F     By: Israel H.B. No. 3355       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the operation of vehicles transporting precast   prestressed concrete products; authorizing a fee.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 621.102(d), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (d)  A vehicle operating under a permit issued under Section   623.011, 623.071, 623.094, 623.121, 623.142, 623.181, 623.192,   623.212, [or] 623.321, or 623.402 [as added by Chapter 1135 (H.B.   2741), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013,] may   operate under the conditions authorized by the permit over a road   for which the executive director of the Texas Department of   Transportation has set a maximum weight under this section.          SECTION 2.  Section 621.301(e), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (e)  A vehicle operating under a permit issued under Section   623.011, 623.071, 623.094, 623.121, 623.142, 623.181, 623.192,   623.212, [or] 623.321, or 623.402 [as added by Chapter 1135 (H.B.   2741), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013,] may   operate under the conditions authorized by the permit over a road   for which the commissioners court has set a maximum weight under   this section.          SECTION 3.  Chapter 623, Transportation Code, is amended by   adding Subchapter U to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER U. PRECAST PRESTRESSED CONCRETE PRODUCTS          Sec. 623.401.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "precast   prestressed concrete products" means concrete that is batched,   placed in forms, and cured in a manufacturing facility for the   purpose of transporting to a job site to be erected into a final   structure.          Sec. 623.402.  PERMIT FOR VEHICLE TRANSPORTING PRECAST   PRESTRESSED CONCRETE PRODUCTS. (a) The department shall issue a   permit that authorizes the operation of a vehicle or combination of   vehicles transporting precast prestressed concrete products at a   gross weight that is not heavier than 100,000 pounds.           (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (e), to qualify for a   permit under this subchapter, a permit fee of $1,000 must be paid.          (c)  A permit issued under this subchapter:                (1)  is valid for one year, except as provided by   Subsection (e); and                (2)  must be carried in the vehicle for which it is   issued.          (d)  A vehicle issued a permit under this subchapter may   operate on a state, county, or municipal road, including a   load-zoned county road or a frontage road adjacent to a federal   interstate highway, if the vehicle displays a sticker required by   Section 623.403 and does not exceed the maximum gross weight   authorized under Subsection (a).          (e)  The department may issue a permit under this subchapter   that is valid for a period of less than one year. The department   shall prorate the applicable fee required by Subsection (b) for a   permit issued under this subsection as necessary to reflect the   term of the permit.          Sec. 623.403.  PERMIT STICKER.  (a)  When the department   issues a permit under this subchapter, the department shall issue a   sticker to be placed on the front windshield of the vehicle.  The   department shall design the form of the sticker to aid in the   enforcement of weight limits for vehicles.          (b)  The sticker must:                (1)  indicate the expiration date of the permit; and                (2)  be removed from the vehicle when:                      (A)  the permit for operation of the vehicle   expires;                      (B)  a lease of the vehicle expires; or                      (C)  the vehicle is sold.          Sec. 623.404.  COUNTY DESIGNATION.  The department by rule   shall require an applicant under this subchapter to designate in   the permit application the counties in which the applicant intends   to operate.          Sec. 623.405.  DISTRIBUTION OF FEE.  Of the fee collected   under this subchapter for a permit, 50 percent of the amount   collected shall be divided among and distributed to the counties   designated under Section 623.404 in permit applications according   to department rule.          Sec. 623.406.  CERTAIN COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL ACTIONS   PROHIBITED.  Unless otherwise provided by state or federal law, a   county or municipality may not require a permit, fee, or license for   the operation of a vehicle described by Section 623.402(a) in   addition to a permit, fee, or license required by state law.          Sec. 623.407.  TIMES AND DAYS OF MOVEMENT. (a) Movement   authorized by a permit issued under this subchapter may be made on   any day, provided that in a county with a population of more than   300,000, movement may not be made between:                (1)  7 a.m. and 9 a.m.; and                (2)  4 p.m. and 6 p.m.          (b)  The Texas Department of Transportation may limit the   hours for travel on certain routes because of heavy traffic   conditions.          (c)  The Texas Department of Transportation shall publish   the limitation on movements prescribed by this section and the   limitations adopted under Subsection (b) and shall make the   publications available to the public. Each limitation adopted by   the Texas Department of Transportation must be made available to   the public before it takes effect.          Sec. 623.408.  INTERSTATE AND DEFENSE HIGHWAYS.  (a)  This   subchapter does not authorize the operation on the national system   of interstate and defense highways in this state of a vehicle of a   size or weight greater than those permitted under 23 U.S.C. Section   127.          (b)  If the United States authorizes the operation on the   national system of interstate and defense highways of a vehicle of a   size or weight greater than those permitted under 23 U.S.C. Section   127 on September 1, 2017, the new limit automatically takes effect   on the national system of interstate and defense highways in this   state.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.