By: Nichols S.B. No. 2216               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to state fiscal matters regarding business and economic   development.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:   ARTICLE 1.  REDUCTION OF EXPENDITURES AND IMPOSITION OF CHARGES   GENERALLY          SECTION 1.01.  This article applies to any state agency that   receives an appropriation under Article VII of the General   Appropriations Act.          SECTION 1.02.  Notwithstanding any other statute of this   state, each state agency to which this article applies is   authorized to reduce or recover expenditures by:                (1)  consolidating any reports or publications the   agency is required to make and filing or delivering any of those   reports or publications exclusively by electronic means;                (2)  extending the effective period of any license,   permit, or registration the agency grants or administers;                (3)  entering into a contract with another governmental   entity or with a private vendor to carry out any of the agency's   duties;                (4)  adopting additional eligibility requirements for   persons who receive benefits under any law the agency administers   to ensure that those benefits are received by the most deserving   persons consistent with the purposes for which the benefits are   provided;                (5)  providing that any communication between the   agency and another person and any document required to be delivered   to or by the agency, including any application, notice, billing   statement, receipt, or certificate, may be made or delivered by   e-mail or through the Internet; and                (6)  adopting and collecting fees or charges to cover   any costs the agency incurs in performing its lawful functions.   ARTICLE 2.  FISCAL MATTERS REGARDING TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AND   ACTIVITIES          SECTION 2.01.  Section 201.601, Transportation Code, is   amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:          (g)  The plan must include a component that evaluates future   federal funding opportunities for all modes of transportation and   identifies actions necessary to maximize the total amount of   federal funds received in the future for transportation   improvements in this state.          SECTION 2.02.  Subchapter H, Chapter 201, Transportation   Code, is amended by adding Section 201.623 to read as follows:          Sec. 201.623.  COOPERATION WITH LOCAL PLANNING ENTITIES TO   MAXIMIZE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PROJECTS. The department shall work   and plan with local transportation planning entities to maximize   the amount of federal funding awarded for projects in this state by   identifying and pursuing projects that are eligible for federal   grant programs, including the scenic byways program.   ARTICLE 3. FISCAL MATTERS REGARDING PERMIT FEES          SECTION 3.01.  Subchapter A, Chapter 623, Transportation   Code, is amended by adding Section 623.002 to read as follows:          Sec. 623.004.  EVALUATION OF PERMIT FEES. (a) The   department shall evaluate highway use in this state by oversize or   overweight vehicles, calculate the cost of damage to highways in   this state caused by those vehicles, and determine whether:                (1)  the fees charged for permits issued under this   chapter are adequate to offset the costs of damage to highways   caused by those vehicles and recommend any fee adjustments for the   permits to reflect the costs of damage to highways caused by those   vehicles; and                (2)  vehicles currently exempt from permit   requirements under this chapter should be required to obtain a   permit to operate on roads or highways in this state.          (b)  Not later than October 1 of each even-numbered year, the   department shall report its findings to:                (1)  the Legislative Budget Board; and                (2)  the governor.          SECTION 3.02.  Section 623.077, Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 623.077.  HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE FEE. (a) An applicant   for a permit under this subchapter, other than a permit under   Section 623.071(c)(3), must also pay a highway maintenance fee in   an amount determined according to vehicle weight and distance   traveled. [the following table:   [Vehicle Weight in Pounds Fee           [80,001 to 120,000 $150           [120,001 to 160,000 $225           [160,001 to 200,000 $300           [200,001 and above $375]                  (b)  The department shall adopt rules to implement this   section and establish a schedule of rates, based on miles traveled,   for all vehicle weight categories that provides for an increase in   the rates according to the weight of a vehicle.          (c)  The department shall send each fee collected under   Subsection (a) to the comptroller, who shall deposit:                (1)  90 percent of the fee to the credit of the state   highway fund; and                (2)  10 percent of the fee to the credit of the Texas   Department of Motor Vehicles fund.          SECTION 3.03.  (a) The Texas Department of Transportation   shall adopt rules implementing Section 623.077, Transportation   Code, as amended by this article, not later than January 1, 2018.          (b)  Section 623.077(a), Transportation Code, as amended by   this article, applies only to an application for a permit submitted   under Subchapter D, Chapter 623, Transportation Code, to the Texas   Department of Transportation on or after January 1, 2018. An   application for a permit submitted before January 1, 2018, is   governed by the law in effect on the date the application was   submitted, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.   ARTICLE 4. ARTICLE VII EMPLOYEES          SECTION 4.01.  An employee of an agency appropriated funds   under Article VII of the General Appropriations Act is not entitled   to an amount from the state for expenses, per diem, travel, or   salary that exceeds the amount authorized for those purposes by the   General Appropriations Act.          SECTION 2.02.  An employee of an agency appropriated funds   under Article VII of the General Appropriations Act is not entitled   to an amount from the state for a salary, a salary supplement,   office expenses or reimbursement of office expenses, or travel that   exceeds the amount authorized for those purposes by the General   Appropriations Act.   Article 5. EFFECTIVE DATE          SECTION 5.4.01.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.