By Goolsby H.B. No. 20
76R105 DWS-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to issuance and renewal of a driver's license of an
1-3 elderly person.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 521.271, Transportation Code, is amended
1-6 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 521.271. LICENSE EXPIRATION. (a) Each original
1-8 driver's license and provisional license expires as follows:
1-9 (1) except as provided by Section 521.2711, a driver's
1-10 license expires on the first birthday of the license holder
1-11 occurring after the sixth anniversary of the date of the
1-12 application;
1-13 (2) a provisional license expires on the earlier of:
1-14 (A) the 18th birthday of the license holder; or
1-15 (B) the first birthday of the license holder
1-16 occurring after the date of the application;
1-17 (3) an instruction permit expires on the first
1-18 birthday of the license holder occurring after the date of the
1-19 application; and
1-20 (4) an occupational license expires on the first
1-21 anniversary of the court order granting the license.
1-22 (b) Except as provided by Section 521.2711, a [A] driver's
1-23 license that is renewed expires on the sixth anniversary of the
1-24 expiration date before renewal.
2-1 SECTION 2. Subchapter M, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
2-2 is amended by adding Section 521.2711 to read as follows:
2-3 Sec. 521.2711. LICENSE EXPIRATION: PERSON AT LEAST 75 YEARS
2-4 OF AGE. (a) A driver's license expires on the license holder's
2-5 75th birthday.
2-6 (b) An original driver's license expires on:
2-7 (1) the third anniversary of the date of issuance, if
2-8 on the date of issuance the person issued the license is at least
2-9 75 years of age but younger than 81 years of age;
2-10 (2) the second anniversary of the date of issuance, if
2-11 on the date of issuance the person issued the license is at least
2-12 81 years of age but younger than 87 years of age; and
2-13 (3) the first anniversary of the date of issuance, if
2-14 on the date of issuance the person issued the license is at least
2-15 87 years of age.
2-16 (c) A driver's license that is renewed expires on:
2-17 (1) the third anniversary of the expiration date
2-18 before renewal, if on the expiration date before renewal the
2-19 license holder is at least 75 years of age but younger than 81
2-20 years of age;
2-21 (2) the second anniversary of the expiration date
2-22 before renewal, if on the expiration date before renewal the
2-23 license holder is at least 81 years of age but younger than 87
2-24 years of age; and
2-25 (3) the first anniversary of the expiration date
2-26 before renewal, if on the expiration date before renewal the
2-27 license holder is at least 87 years of age.
3-1 SECTION 3. Section 521.273, Transportation Code, is amended
3-2 by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
3-3 (c) The department may not renew a driver's license of a
3-4 person who on the license's expiration date before renewal is at
3-5 least 75 years of age unless the person passes an examination for
3-6 the renewal. The examination must include:
3-7 (1) a test of the person's vision; and
3-8 (2) a demonstration of the person's ability to
3-9 exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a
3-10 motor vehicle of the type that the license authorizes the person to
3-11 operate.
3-12 SECTION 4. Section 521.274(b), Transportation Code, is
3-13 amended to read as follows:
3-14 (b) A rule adopted under this subsection may not permit
3-15 renewal by mail of:
3-16 (1) a provisional license;
3-17 (2) an occupational license; [or]
3-18 (3) a driver's license if the license holder's driving
3-19 record as maintained by the department shows that the holder,
3-20 within the four years preceding the date of the renewal
3-21 application, has been convicted of:
3-22 (A) a moving violation, as defined by department
3-23 rule, in this state; or
3-24 (B) an offense described by Subchapter O; or
3-25 (4) a driver's license of a person who on the
3-26 license's expiration date before renewal is at least 75 years of
3-27 age.
4-1 SECTION 5. Section 521.421, Transportation Code, is amended
4-2 by adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:
4-3 (i) The department shall prorate the fee for the issuance or
4-4 renewal of a driver's license of a person who on the license's
4-5 expiration date before renewal is at least 70 years of age to
4-6 account for the expiration of the license on the person's 75th
4-7 birthday. The fee for issuance or renewal of a driver's license of
4-8 a person who is at least 75 years of age on the date of issuance or
4-9 the expiration date before renewal, as applicable, is:
4-10 (1) $12 for a license with an expiration date
4-11 established under Section 521.2711(b)(1) or (c)(1);
4-12 (2) $8 for a license with an expiration date
4-13 established under Section 521.2711(b)(2) or (c)(2); or
4-14 (3) $4 for a license with an expiration date
4-15 established under Section 521.2711(b)(3) or (c)(3).
4-16 SECTION 6. The change in law made by this Act applies only
4-17 to a driver's license issued or renewed on or after the effective
4-18 date of this Act.
4-19 SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
4-20 SECTION 8. The importance of this legislation and the
4-21 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-22 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-23 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-24 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.