SRC-JJJ S.B. 1631 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1631
76R3530 JD-DBy: Shapiro
Criminal Justice
4/15/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law establishes that when a person is driving with a
suspended driver's license due to a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)
conviction, the penalty is a Class A misdemeanor.  This punishment is
minimal and serves little as a deterrent.  S.B. 1631 would increase the
penalty for driving with a suspended driver's license due to a DWI to a
State Jail Felony.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1631 establishes provisions regarding the penalty for
driving while a driver's license in invalid. 

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 521.457, Transportation Code, by amending
Subsections (e) and (f), redesignating Subsection (g) as Subsection (h),
and adding a new Subsection (g), to set forth conditions by which an
offense under this section is punishable, except as provided by Subsections
(f) and (g).  Provides that Subsection (f) does not apply to an offense
punishable under Subsection (g).  Provides that an offense under this
section is a state jail felony if it is shown on the trial of the offense
that the person's driver's license was suspended for certain offenses
regarding Driving While Intoxicated.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.
            Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.