HBA-NIK S.B. 749 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 749
By: Shapleigh (To Be Determined)
Transportation
4/21/1999
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) has been conducting enforcement
activities at the United States Customs Service ports of entry in an effort
to ensure that commercial motor vehicles entering Texas from Mexico comply
with federal safety regulations and the size and weight restrictions
codified in Texas statutes.  The 75th Legislature authorized DPS to weigh
commercial vehicles at the ports of entry. S.B. 749 extends the weight
limitations in the Transportation Code to the ports of entry, making it a
violation to exceed the weight limitation upon entering the state from
Mexico. 

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 Section 621.101(a),Transportation Code, to prohibit a
vehicle or combination of vehicles with specified characteristics related
to weight from operating over or on a statemaintained highway inside the
territory of a municipality or in a port of entry with Mexico and this
state. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 621.408, Transportation Code, to make a
conforming change. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.