By Hilderbran                                          H.B. No. 661
         76R2689 DWS-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to restrictions on driving by persons younger than 18
 1-3     years of age.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter I, Chapter 545, Transportation Code,
 1-6     is amended by adding Section 545.424 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 545.424.  OPERATION OF VEHICLE BY PERSON YOUNGER THAN 18
 1-8     YEARS OF AGE.  (a)  A person younger than 18 years of age may not
 1-9     operate a motor  vehicle after 10 p.m. and before 6 a.m.
1-10           (b)  It is a defense to a prosecution for an offense under
1-11     this section that:
1-12                 (1)  the operator is accompanied by the operator's
1-13     parent or guardian; or
1-14                 (2)  the operation of the motor vehicle is necessary
1-15     for the operator to attend or participate in employment, school or
1-16     a school-related activity, or an activity related to membership in
1-17     an established extracurricular organization the primary purpose of
1-18     which is the education or development of youth.
1-19           SECTION 2.  Section 521.145, Transportation Code, is amended
1-20     to read as follows:
1-21           Sec. 521.145.  APPLICATION BY PERSON UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE.
1-22     (a)  The application of an applicant under 18 years of age must be
1-23     signed by:
1-24                 (1)  the parent or guardian who has custody of the
 2-1     applicant; or
 2-2                 (2)  if the applicant has no parent or guardian:
 2-3                       (A)  the applicant's employer; or
 2-4                       (B)  the county judge of the county in which the
 2-5     applicant resides.
 2-6           (b)  The department shall provide the applicant and the
 2-7     cosigner with information concerning:
 2-8                 (1)  state laws relating to driving while intoxicated,
 2-9     driving by a minor with alcohol in the minor's system, and implied
2-10     consent; and
2-11                 (2)  the limitations imposed by Section 545.424.
2-12           (c)  The applicant and cosigner must acknowledge receipt of
2-13     the [this] information provided under Subsection (b).
2-14           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-15           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-16     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-17     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-18     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-19     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.