88(R) HB 3418 - Engrossed version - Bill Text
  |
  |
 
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
 
|
AN ACT
|
 
|
relating to the implementation by the Texas Department of |
 
|
Transportation of a vehicle mileage user fee pilot program and a |
 
|
task force to assist in developing and evaluating the program. |
 
|
             BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
 
|
             SECTION  1.    Chapter 201, Transportation Code, is amended by |
 
|
adding Subchapter Z to read as follows: |
 
|
SUBCHAPTER Z. VEHICLE MILEAGE USER FEE PILOT PROGRAM |
 
|
             Sec.  201.2101.    DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
 
|
                         (1)    "Motor fuel taxes" means the motor fuel taxes |
 
|
imposed under Chapter 162, Tax Code. |
 
|
                         (2)    "Pilot program" means the vehicle mileage user fee |
 
|
pilot program. |
 
|
                         (3)    "Task force" means the vehicle mileage user fee |
 
|
task force. |
 
|
             Sec.  201.2102.    TASK FORCE. (a)  The vehicle mileage user |
 
|
fee task force is established to guide the development and |
 
|
evaluation of the vehicle mileage user fee pilot program to assess |
 
|
the potential for mileage-based revenue as an alternative to the |
 
|
current system of taxing highway use through motor fuel taxes. |
 
|
             (b)    The task force shall consist of seven members appointed |
 
|
as follows: |
 
|
                         (1)    one member appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
 
|
                         (2)    one member appointed by the speaker of the house of |
 
|
representatives; |
 
|
                         (3)    one member appointed by the chair of the standing |
 
|
committee of the house of representatives having primary |
 
|
jurisdiction over transportation; |
 
|
                         (4)    one member appointed by the chair of the standing |
 
|
committee of the senate having primary jurisdiction over |
 
|
transportation; and |
 
|
                         (5)    three members that represent the trucking |
 
|
industry, appointed by the governor. |
 
|
             (c)    The task force shall: |
 
|
                         (1)    conduct at least three public hearings to gather |
 
|
public comment on issues and concerns related to the pilot program; |
 
|
                         (2)    make recommendations to the department on the |
 
|
design and on the criteria to be used to evaluate the pilot program |
 
|
and other alternative approaches to motor fuel taxes; and |
 
|
                         (3)    evaluate the pilot program. |
 
|
             (d)    In conducting hearings under Subsection (c)(1), the |
 
|
task force shall: |
 
|
                         (1)    provide notice: |
 
|
                                     (A)    in the manner provided by Chapter 551, |
 
|
Government Code; and |
 
|
                                     (B)    on the department's Internet website; and |
 
|
                         (2)    provide interested persons with an opportunity to |
 
|
submit their opinions orally and in writing. |
 
|
             (e)    The department may create and maintain an Internet |
 
|
website to allow members of the public to submit comments |
 
|
electronically. |
 
|
             (f)    On request, the department shall assist the task force |
 
|
in implementing this subchapter. |
 
|
             Sec.  201.2103.    PILOT PROGRAM. (a)  The department, in |
 
|
consultation with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and the |
 
|
Texas A&M Transportation Institute, shall develop and implement a |
 
|
statewide pilot program to assess a user fee on owners of motor |
 
|
vehicles that is based on the number of miles traveled on public |
 
|
highways in this state by those vehicles. |
 
|
             (b)    The pilot program must: |
 
|
                         (1)    include not more than 800 motor vehicles, the |
 
|
mileage of which will be measured by a variety of |
 
|
vehicle-mileage-counting strategies, including odometer readings, |
 
|
administered in a manner the department considers appropriate; |
 
|
| Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()
House Committee Report: ()
Engrossed: ()