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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the requirements for issuance of a driver's license or |
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learner license to a person younger than 18 years of age. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 521.204(a), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The department may issue a Class C driver's license to |
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an applicant under 18 years of age only if the applicant: |
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(1) is 16 years of age or older; |
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(2) has submitted to the department a driver education |
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certificate issued under Section 1001.055, Education Code, that |
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states that the person has completed and passed a driver education |
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course approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and |
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Regulation; and |
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(3) [has obtained a high school diploma or its |
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equivalent or is a student: |
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[(A) enrolled in a public school, home school, or |
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private school who attended school for at least 80 days in the fall |
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or spring semester preceding the date of the driver's license |
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application; or |
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[(B) who has been enrolled for at least 45 days, |
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and is enrolled as of the date of the application, in a program to |
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prepare persons to pass the high school equivalency exam; |
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[(4) has submitted to the department written parental |
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or guardian permission: |
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[(A) for the department to access the applicant's |
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school enrollment records maintained by the Texas Education Agency; |
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and |
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[(B) for a school administrator or law |
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enforcement officer to notify the department in the event that the |
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person has been absent from school for at least 20 consecutive |
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instructional days; and |
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[(5)] has passed the examination required by Section |
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521.161. |
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SECTION 2. Section 521.222(a), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The department may issue a learner license, including a |
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Class A or Class B driver's learner license, to a person who: |
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(1) is 15 years of age or older but under 18 years of |
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age; |
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(2) has satisfactorily completed and passed the |
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classroom phase of an approved driver education course, which may |
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be a course taught under Section 1001.112, Education Code; and |
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(3) [meets the requirements imposed under Section |
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521.204(a)(3); and |
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[(4)] has passed each examination required under |
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Section 521.161 other than the driving test. |
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SECTION 3. Section 521.003, Transportation Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |