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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the waiver 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 D, Chapter 1001, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1001.152 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1001.152. WAIVER OF FEES FOR CERTAIN STUDENTS. (a) A |
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course provider may not charge a student who is eligible for a fee |
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exemption under Section 521.168, Transportation Code, fees and |
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costs associated with a course approved under this chapter unless |
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reimbursement of the fee or cost is prohibited under Section |
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521.4265(c), Transportation Code. Fees and costs subject to this |
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section include: |
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(1) fees for a driver education certificate or |
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certificate number; |
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(2) classroom or behind-the-wheel tuition; |
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(3) fees for instructional supplies or books; and |
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(4) laboratory fees, service charges, rental fees, and |
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deposits. |
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(b) The department may not charge a fee for a driver |
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education certificate or certificate number for a parent-taught |
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driver education course for a student who is eligible for a fee |
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exemption under Section 521.168, Transportation Code, unless |
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reimbursement of the fee is prohibited under Section 521.4265(c), |
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Transportation Code. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1001.355, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 1001.355. WITHHOLDING CERTAIN RECORDS. (a) A driver |
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training school may withhold a student's diploma or certificate of |
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completion until the student fulfills the student's financial |
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obligation to the school. |
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(b) This section does not apply to a student entitled to a |
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fee exemption under Section 1001.152, regardless of whether the |
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driver training school is reimbursed for the student's financial |
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obligation under Section 521.4265, Transportation Code. |
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SECTION 3. 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. WAIVER OF FEES FOR CERTAIN FOSTER AND |
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HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTHS. Unless reimbursement or payment of |
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the fee is prohibited under Section 521.4265(c), fees associated |
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with meeting a requirement imposed under this subchapter shall be |
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waived 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; |
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(B) resided in a foster care placement, the cost |
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of which was paid by the Department of Family and Protective |
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Services; or |
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(C) is a homeless child or youth as defined by 42 |
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U.S.C. Section 11434a. |
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SECTION 4. 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) make reimbursements for: |
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(A) fees waived by course providers and the Texas |
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Department of Licensing and Regulation under Section 1001.152, |
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Education Code; and |
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(B) fees waived under Section 521.168 of this |
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code by entities other than the department; |
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(2) pay the department's costs associated with |
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providing waivers under Section 521.168 of this code; 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) make a reimbursement under Subsection (b)(1) or |
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pay a cost under Subsection (b)(2) if the balance of the account for |
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the fiscal year is less than three times the amount expended in the |
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previous fiscal year for the waivers provided by Sections |
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521.1015(e) and 521.1811; 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 by rule shall establish a process by |
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which reimbursement is made under Subsection (b). |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |