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.