RS C.S.H.B. 1937 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS INSURANCE C.S.H.B. 1937 By: Flores 4-25-97 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND When the Department of Public Safety decides to proceed with the suspension of an individual's driver's license after being convicted more than once for operating a motor vehicle without liability insurance or for being involved in an accident while driving uninsured, the department must notify the affected person of the suspension by certified mail. In order for the suspension to take affect, the person whose license is being suspended must sign the return receipt that accompanies the certified letter. In this manner, there are many instances where the person whose license is being suspended simply refuses to sign for the certified letter and avoids having their driver's license suspended. In addition, many times the last known address for an individual maybe different from the one the DPS may have on file for them. When this holds true, a person can again avoid having their license suspended because they simply did not reside at the address where the certified letter was mailed to. PURPOSE As proposed, House Bill 1937 would require the Department of Public Safety to notify an individual that his or her driver's license is being suspended by regular mail to the last known address, in order for notice of a driver's license suspension to be presumed received. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends subsection (c) and adds subsection (d) to Section 601.155, Transportation Code as follows: (c) Removes language requiring certified mail, and return reciept. (d) If notice was mailed to last known address by department standards, then it is presumed to be received. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE Document made into Legislative Council draft. No other substantive changes.