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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the implementation by the Texas Department of |
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Transportation of a vehicle mileage user fee pilot program and a |
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task force to assist in developing and evaluating the program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 201, Transportation Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter Z to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER Z. VEHICLE MILEAGE USER FEE PILOT PROGRAM |
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Sec. 201.2101. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Motor fuel taxes" means the motor fuel taxes |
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imposed under Chapter 162, Tax Code. |
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(2) "Pilot program" means the vehicle mileage user fee |
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pilot program. |
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(3) "Task force" means the vehicle mileage user fee |
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task force. |
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Sec. 201.2102. TASK FORCE. (a) The vehicle mileage user |
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fee task force is established to guide the development and |
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evaluation of the vehicle mileage user fee pilot program to assess |
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the potential for mileage-based revenue as an alternative to the |
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current system of taxing highway use through motor fuel taxes. |
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(b) The task force shall consist of seven members appointed |
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as follows: |
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(1) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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(2) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of |
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representatives; |
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(3) one member appointed by the chair of the standing |
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committee of the house of representatives having primary |
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jurisdiction over transportation; |
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(4) one member appointed by the chair of the standing |
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committee of the senate having primary jurisdiction over |
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transportation; and |
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(5) three members that represent the trucking |
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industry, appointed by the governor. |
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(c) The task force shall: |
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(1) conduct at least three public hearings to gather |
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public comment on issues and concerns related to the pilot program; |
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(2) make recommendations to the department on the |
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design and on the criteria to be used to evaluate the pilot program |
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and other alternative approaches to motor fuel taxes; and |
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(3) evaluate the pilot program. |
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(d) In conducting hearings under Subsection (c)(1), the |
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task force shall: |
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(1) provide notice: |
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(A) in the manner provided by Chapter 551, |
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Government Code; and |
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(B) on the department's Internet website; and |
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(2) provide interested persons with an opportunity to |
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submit their opinions orally and in writing. |
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(e) The department may create and maintain an Internet |
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website to allow members of the public to submit comments |
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electronically. |
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(f) On request, the department shall assist the task force |
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in implementing this subchapter. |
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Sec. 201.2103. PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The department, in |
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consultation with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and the |
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Texas A&M Transportation Institute, shall develop and implement a |
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statewide pilot program to assess a user fee on owners of motor |
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vehicles that is based on the number of miles traveled on public |
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highways in this state by those vehicles. |
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(b) The pilot program must: |
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(1) include not more than 800 motor vehicles, the |
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mileage of which will be measured by a variety of |
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vehicle-mileage-counting strategies, including odometer readings, |
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administered in a manner the department considers appropriate; |
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(2) test the reliability, ease of use, cost, and |
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public acceptance of technology and methods for: |
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(A) counting the number of miles traveled by |
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motor vehicles; |
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(B) reporting the number of miles traveled by |
Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()
House Committee Report: ()
Engrossed: ()