By Leedom S.B. No. 503 74R3507 JD-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the training and licensing of motorcycle operators in 1-3 this state. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 1, Article 6701c-4, Revised Statutes, is 1-6 amended to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 1. Establishment and Administration. The governor 1-8 shall designate a state agency to establish and administer a 1-9 motorcycle operator training and safety program. The purpose of 1-10 the program is to make available to all motorcycle operators in 1-11 this state information and courses in knowledge, skills, and safety 1-12 relating to the operation of motorcycles and to provide information 1-13 to the general public on sharing the roadway with motorcycles. The 1-14 program shall use, but not be limited to, curricula and instructor 1-15 certification requirements developed by the Motorcycle Safety 1-16 Foundation. The curriculum for a motorcycle operator training 1-17 course must include basic skills and knowledge training in the safe 1-18 operation of a motorcycle on a highway. The designated agency 1-19 shall employ a Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified chief 1-20 instructor as program director. The designated agency shall have 1-21 the authority to license and/or contract with qualified 1-22 individuals, associations, partnerships, corporations, or 1-23 educational or governmental agencies to administer and/or operate 1-24 the program. No individual, association, partnership, corporation, 2-1 or educational or governmental agency shall offer training in 2-2 motorcycle operation for tuition, consideration, or fee without 2-3 such authorization. Chapter 332, Acts of the 60th Legislature, 2-4 Regular Session, 1967 (Article 4413(29c), Vernon's Texas Civil 2-5 Statutes), concerning commercial driver training schools and 2-6 instructors, does not apply to training offered under this article. 2-7 SECTION 2. Section 10(d), Chapter 173, Acts of the 47th 2-8 Legislature, Regular Session, 1941 (Article 6687b, Vernon's Texas 2-9 Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows: 2-10 (d) An applicant required to submit to a motorcycle road 2-11 test must provide a passenger vehicle and a licensed driver to 2-12 convey the license examiner during the road test. The Department 2-13 may refuse to give any part of the road test to an applicant who 2-14 does not provide a passenger vehicle for the examiner. An 2-15 applicant for a license to operate a motorcycle may not be required 2-16 to submit to a motorcycle road test if the applicant provides 2-17 evidence to the Department that the applicant has successfully 2-18 completed a motorcycle operator training course: 2-19 (1) offered or sponsored by a person with 2-20 authorization from the designated state agency under Article 2-21 6701c-4, Revised Statutes; 2-22 (2) approved by the designated state agency under that 2-23 article; and 2-24 (3) that includes skills and knowledge training in the 2-25 safe operation of a motorcycle on a highway in its curriculum. 2-26 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995. The 2-27 change in law made by Section 2 of this Act applies only to a 3-1 person who applies on or after September 1, 1995, for a license to 3-2 operate a motorcycle. 3-3 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 3-4 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-5 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-6 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-7 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.