HBA-MPA H.B. 1041 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1041
By: Rangel
Transportation
2/28/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, much of the agricultural product grown in Texas is transported
from one region to another by truck-tractors.  A percentage of this
transport of seasonal products to and from commercial markets involves the
use of vehicles on a limited basis, or for only part of a year.  State law
mandates that these truck-tractors be registered annually through the Texas
Department of Transportation, but there are 72-hour and 144-hour vehicle
registration permits available to address the seasonal transport situation.
Many seasonal harvesters need to repeatedly purchase these "short-term"
registrations in order to deliver their commodities, which costs nearly as
much as annual registration. H.B. 1041 provides harvesters who transport
seasonal agricultural products the opportunity to purchase a partial year
or seasonal registration for their truck-tractor. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.1585, as follows: 

Sec. 502.1585.  REGISTRATION PERIOD FOR TRUCK-TRACTOR OR COMMERCIAL MOTOR
VEHICLE TRANSPORTING SEASONAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.  (a) Requires the
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to provide for monthly
registration for a truck-tractor or commercial motor vehicle that is used
exclusively to transport a seasonal agricultural product, and would
otherwise be registered for a vehicle registration year.   

(b) Requires TxDOT to adopt forms for registration, and an applicant to
indicate the number of months registration is being applied for. 

(c) Requires TxDOT to design, prescribe, and furnish a registration receipt
and insignia valid until the expiration of the designated registration
period. 

(d) Provides that the registration fee be computed at one-twelfth the rate
applicable under Section 502.162 (Fee: Commercial Motor Vehicle or
Truck-Tractor) or 502.167 (Truck-Tractor or Commercial Motor Vehicle
Combination Fee; Semitrailer Token Fee) to be multiplied by the number of
months specified in the application. 

(e) Provides that a person issued monthly registration commits an offense
under  Section 502.401 (General Penalty) if the person uses the vehicle
during the period of registration for a purpose other than the transport of
a seasonal agricultural product. 

(f) Prohibits a truck-tractor or commercial motor vehicle from being
registered under this section for a period of less than one month or more
than six months. 


 (g) Defines "to transport a seasonal agricultural product" for the
purposes of this section as any transportation necessary for the
production, harvest, or delivery of an agricultural product that is
produced seasonally. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.