JWW C.S.H.B. 1200 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


PUBLIC SAFETY
C.S.H.B. 1200
By: Cuellar
4-7-97
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND 

Currently, drivers licenses and personal identification cards expire on
the first birthday following the fourth anniversary of the application
date.  Each subsequent application for renewal or required change (name or
address) requires a sixteen dollar fee. 

PURPOSE

This bill will allow for six year term of issuance for driver's licenses
and personal identification certificates. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

The department is authorized to establish rules to provide for the
staggered expiration of licenses, permits, and certificates under Chapters
521 and 522, Transportation Code. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1 Amends Section 521.101(f), Transportation Code, by stating that
a certificate issued   to a person over age 60 will not expire. 

SECTION 2 Amends Section 521.271, Transportation Code, as follows:

  (a)(1) A driver's license expires on the first birthday of the license
holder following   the sixth anniversary of the application date. 

  (b)  Driver's licenses issued under this section will expire on the
sixth anniversary    of expiration date. 
 
SECTION 3 Amends Section 521.421, Transportation Code, as follows:

  (a) the fee for license renewal not addressed in this section will be
$24. 

  (b) the fee for renewal of a Class M license is $32.

  (f) Class A, B, or C driver's license that include authorization to
operate a moped or   motorcycle, will be subject to an additional $8 fee. 

SECTION  Adds Subsection (f) as follows:

  (f)  authorizes the department to provide on request, the option of
making installment payments over a one year period for the fee
described in Subsection (a). 

SECTION 4 Amends Section 521.422, Transportation Code, as follows:

   (1) raises the fee for a personal identification certificate to $15 and
lowers the age   limit to age 60. 
 
  (2) States that the renewal fee for a personal identification
certificate for     persons over age 60 will be $5. 

SECTION 5 Amends Section 521.422, Transportation Code, as follows:

  (a) raises fee for commercial driver's license learner's permit to $60.

  (b) adds this subsection to state that if a commercial driver's license
or commercial   driver's license includes authorization to operate a moped
or motorcycle, the fee is   increased by $8. 

SECTION 6 Amends Section 523.051(a)-(d), Transportation Code, as follows:

  (a) a commercial driver's license expires six years after applicant's
next birthday. 

  (b) a commercial driver's license or commercial driver's license
learner's permit set   to expire at least a year after the date of
issuance expires six years after the   applicant's next birthday. 

  (c) a commercial driver's license or commercial driver's license
learner's permit set   to expire one year after the date of issuance or
has expired for less than one year   expires six years after the
expiration date shown on the license. 

  (d) a commercial driver's license or commercial driver's license
learner's permit which   has been expired between one year, but no longer
than two years expires six years   after the last birthday of the
applicant. 

SECTION 7 Amends Section 522.052, Transportation Code, as follows:
  
  (b) a renewal of a commercial driver's license expired for less than one
year expires   six years after the expiration date shown on the commercial
driver's license. 

  (c) a renewal of a commercial driver's license expired at least one year
but not more   than two years expires six years after the applicant's last
birthday. 

SECTION 8 The department is is provided authority to establish by rule a
system which staggers   the expiration dates of licenses, permits, and
certificates under Chapters 521 and 522,   Transportation Code. 

SECTION 9 Changes to this law apply to licenses, permits, or certificates
issued or renewed on   or after the effective date. 

SECTION 10 Effective Date: September 1, 1997

SECTION 11 Emergency Clause

 
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1 This section is added to state that a certificates issued to
persons over age 60 will   not expire. 

SECTION 2 Originally SECTION 1.  Removes "AND PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION
CERTIFICATE" from heading.  This section applies only to driver's
licenses.    Changes the term of expiration from twelve years to six
years.  

  (c) This subsection is deleted.

SECTION 3 Replaces original SECTION 3.  Removes "AND CERTIFICATE" from the
heading. 

  (a) removes "or personal identification certificate" and does not remove
"or   renewal."  Subsections (1) through (6) are deleted. 

  (b) does not remove "Class M", deletes "not otherwise provided for by
this   section."  Raises the renewal fee for licenses from $16 to $24. 

  (f) this subsection is added.

SECTION 4 Removes "RENEWAL" removes from heading.  Removes reference to
renewal of   personal identification certificates. 
  
  (1) this subsection is is not deleted.
  
SECTION 5 Replaces original SECTION 5.  Amends Section 522.029,
Transportation Code. 

SECTION 6 Replaces original SECTION 6.  Amends Section 522.051(a)-(d),
Transportation   Code. 

SECTION 7 Replaces original SECTION 7.  This section amends
Section522.051(a)-(d),   Transportation Code, to comply with the six year
term of issuance for driver's   licenses. 

SECTION 8 This section is added.  Original SECTION 8 becomes SECTION 10.

SECTION 9 This section is added.  Original SECTION 9 becomes SECTION 11.