SRC-TNM S.B. 184 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 184
By: Shapiro
Finance
4-8-97
Committee Report (Amended)


DIGEST 

Currently, funding for the Texas Motorcycle Operator Training and Safety
Program comes from a $5 surcharge on the four-year renewal of motorcycle
licenses and is deposited into the Motorcycle Education Fund within the
state treasury.  This source of funding serves to pay for the basic and
advanced motorcycle operator training courses offered through the
Department of Public Safety. When demand for courses began to increase,
funding did not include all Texans applying for or having a motorcycle
license.  For example, commercial driver's license holders and applicants
for an original motorcycle license or a provisional license are exempt
from the surcharge.  S.B. 184 would stipulate a fee for all classes of
licenses to operate a motorcycle.  The fee would go to the general fund
account 501 and be used by the Motorcycle Safety Bureau to support budget
training. 
    
PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 184 outlines provisions for the issuance of certain
driver's licenses, including a license authorizing the operation of a
motorcycle. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 521.421, Transportation Code, by amending
Subsections (b) and (e) and adding Subsection (f), to set forth the
required fees for a driver's license renewal that includes authorization
to operate a motorcycle. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 522.029, Transportation Code, by amending
Subsections (a) and (d) and adding Subsections (f) and (g), to set forth
the required fees for certain licenses and certain license renewals.
Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 662, Transportation Code, by adding Section
662.011, as follows: 

Sec. 662.011. MOTORCYCLE EDUCATION FUND ACCOUNT.  Requires the Department
of Public Safety to send $5 of each fee collected under Sections
521.421(b) and (f) and Sections 522.029(f) and (g) to the comptroller for
deposit to the credit of the motorcycle education fund account.
Authorizes money deposited to the credit of the motorcycle education fund
account to be used only to defray the cost of administering the motorcycle
operator training and safety program. 

SECTION 4. Provides that this Act conforms the Transportation Code to the
changes in law made by Section 1(38), Chapter 1058, Acts of the 74th
Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, in addition to the new changes in law
made by this Act.  Provides that this Act prevails over another Act of the
75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, relating to nonsubstantive
additions to and corrections in enacted codes, to the extent of any
conflict. 

SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 1997.
  Makes application of this Act prospective.

 SECTION 6. Emergency clause.        

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Amendment 1.

Amends Chapter 662, Transportation Code, to delete proposed Section
662.011 and replace it with a new Section 662.011, regarding the
motorcycle education fund account.