SRC-SLL S.B. 881 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 881
By: Brown
Criminal Justice
3-17-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

S.B. 1504, passed by the 74th Legislature, authorized the Department of
Public Safety (DPS) to contract with private entities to set up a
statewide traffic warrant database and to deny a renewal of a driver's
licence for failure to pay for traffic warrants.  This bill was the first
attempt to link city, county, and state outstanding warrants into a
central database.  After the passage of S.B. 1504, it was discovered that
several offenses were not included under the definition of "traffic law,"
such as failure to show completion of a driver safety course.  This bill
will expand the list of outstanding offenses that result in denial of
driver's license renewal. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 881 expands the list of outstanding offenses that result
in denial of driver's license renewal. 

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 1, Article 6687d, V.T.C.S., by amending
Subdivision (5) and adding Subdivisions (6)-(9), to redefine "traffic
law," and to define "highway or street," "motor vehicle," "operator," and
"public place." 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 2(a), Article 6687d, V.T.C.S., to authorize a
political subdivision to contract with the Department of Public Safety
(DPS) to provide information necessary for the DPS to deny renewal of the
driver's license of a person who has failed to appear for a complaint,
citation, or court order to pay a fine involving an offense under Section
38.10, Penal Code, if the underlying offense is a traffic offense; or an
offense under Section 543.009(b) or 543.107(b), Transportation Code. 

SECTION 3. Amends Sections 4(a)-(c), Article 6687d, V.T.C.S., to make
conforming changes. 

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.