BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 472 By: Bivins (Craddick) 05-03-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND In 1989, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) adopted, by rule, 49 C.F.R. Part 391 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. The regulations provide minimum physical requirements for individuals who wish to qualify for a commercial driver's license; the minimum vision standard is 20/40 in each eye individually and together, with or without corrective lenses. Many intrastate drivers have been left unable to obtain a commercial driver's license because their vision was below federal standards. Between September 1, 1989 and December 31, 1989, the federal government allowed the DPS to grant waivers from vision requirements. Waivers for physical impairments such as amputation were already authorized. However, after January 1, 1990, a large population of intrastate drivers still existed who could no longer apply for a commercial drivers license. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 472 authorizes the Department of Public Safety to provide for a waiver of the visual standards for a commercial driver's license if the person who is applying for or who has been issued the license is a person who drives a commercial motor vehicle only in this state. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is granted to the Department of Public Safety in SECTION 1 (Section 12B, Article 6687b-2, V.T.C.S.) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Article 6687b-2, V.T.C.S. (The Texas Commercial Driver's License Act), by adding Section 12B, as follows: Sec. 12B. WAIVER OF VISUAL STANDARDS FOR INTRASTATE DRIVER. Authorizes the Department of Public Safety, by rule, to provide for a waiver of the visual standards for a commercial driver's license if the person who is applying for or who has been issued the license is a person who drives a commercial motor vehicle only in this state. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION SB 472 was considered by the committee in a public hearing on April 26, 1995. The bill was reported favorably without amendment by a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 2 pnv, and 1 absent.