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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the payment of fees and costs associated with driver |
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education and safety courses and driver's license examinations for |
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foster children or youth, former foster children or youth, and |
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youth experiencing homelessness. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 521.168 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 521.168. PAYMENT OF FEES FOR CERTAIN FOSTER AND |
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HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTHS. (a) Unless prohibited under Section |
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521.4265(c), the Texas Workforce Commission shall on request pay |
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the fees associated with meeting a requirement imposed under this |
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subchapter or Chapter 1001, Education Code, for a person who is: |
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(1) eligible for a driver's license fee exemption |
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under Section 521.1811; or |
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(2) younger than 26 years of age and: |
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(A) was in the managing conservatorship of the |
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Department of Family and Protective Services on the day before the |
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person's 18th birthday; or |
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(B) is a homeless child or youth as defined by 42 |
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U.S.C. Section 11434a. |
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(b) The Texas Workforce Commission by rule shall establish a |
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process by which: |
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(1) a person described by Subsection (a) may apply to |
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that commission for the payment of fees under this section; and |
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(2) that commission pays fees associated with meeting |
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a requirement imposed under this subchapter or Chapter 1001, |
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Education Code, to appropriate entities on behalf of the person |
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described by Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 2. Section 521.4265, Transportation Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection |
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(d) to read as follows: |
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(b) From the money in the identification fee exemption |
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account the department shall: |
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(1) request that the comptroller transfer to the Texas |
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Workforce Commission amounts sufficient to provide for the payment |
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by the Texas Workforce Commission of fees to entities other than the |
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department under Section 521.168; |
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(2) pay the department's costs associated with |
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administering Subdivision (1); and |
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(3) for [For] each exemption granted under Section |
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521.1015 or 521.1811, [the department shall] deposit to the credit |
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of the Texas mobility fund an amount [from the identification fee |
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exemption account under Subsection (a)] that is equal to the amount |
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of the waived fee that would otherwise be deposited to the mobility |
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fund. |
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(c) The department may not: |
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(1) request a transfer under Subsection (b)(1) or pay |
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a cost under Subsection (b)(2) if the department determines in |
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consultation with the Texas Workforce Commission that the balance |
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of the account is insufficient; or |
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(2) grant an exemption under Section 521.1015 or |
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521.1811 if money is not available in the identification fee |
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exemption account to meet the requirements of Subsection (b)(3) |
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[(b)]. |
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(d) The department, in consultation with the Texas |
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Workforce Commission, by rule shall establish a process by which |
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transfers are made under Subsection (b). |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |