By Goolsby                                              H.B. No. 15
         76R247 DWS-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to testing for controlled substance use by an applicant
 1-3     for a commercial driver's license or learner's permit.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 522, Transportation Code,
 1-6     is amended by adding Section 522.0245 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 522.0245.  CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE TESTING.  (a)  The
 1-8     department may not issue a commercial driver's license or
 1-9     commercial driver learner's permit to an applicant who the
1-10     department determines has illegally used a controlled substance
1-11     during the 90-day period preceding the date of the application.
1-12           (b)  The department shall make a determination under
1-13     Subsection (a)  using an analysis of the applicant's hair.  The
1-14     applicant must submit a sample of the applicant's hair in the
1-15     manner directed by the department.
1-16           (c)  In addition to other fees provided by this chapter, an
1-17     applicant must submit with an application for a commercial driver's
1-18     license or commercial driver learner's permit a fee in an amount
1-19     set by the department to cover the cost of the analysis of the
1-20     applicant's hair.
1-21           SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
1-22     to  an application for a commercial driver's license or commercial
1-23     driver learner's permit submitted on or after the effective date of
1-24     this Act.
 2-1           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
 2-2           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-3     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-4     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-5     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-6     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.