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.