SRC-SLL S.B. 423 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 423 By: Whitmire State Affairs 2-5-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, Texas requires a driver to renew his or her license every four years. If that driver has no violations on his or her record, the driver is eligible to renew the license by mail. If a driver has a moving traffic violation or serious driving offense on his or her record during that four-year period, the driver is not eligible to renew the license by mail. This bill will encourage drivers with a moving traffic violation or serious driving offense to take a driving safety course instead of just paying the ticket or receiving deferred adjudication, resulting in more educated drivers and safer roads. This bill will require drivers who have violations on their records to show proof of having taken a driving safety course certified by the Texas Education Agency within the previous four years in order to renew their licenses. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 423 requires a person who has driving violations on the person's record to show proof of having taken a driving safety course for renewal of a driver's license. 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 Chapter 521M, Transportation Code, by adding Section 521.275, as follows: Sec. 521.275. DRIVING SAFETY COURSE. Prohibits the Department of Public Safety from renewing a driver's license of an applicant who is not eligible for renewal by mail under Section 521.274(b)(3) unless within the four years preceding the date of the renewal application the applicant has successfully completed a driving safety course approved under Article 4413(29c), V.T.C.S. (Texas Driver and Traffic Safety Education Act). SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.