AN ACT
 1-1     relating to the regulation of driver training courses.
 1-2           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-3           SECTION 1.  Section 6, Texas Driver and Traffic Safety
 1-4     Education Act (Article 4413(29c), Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes),
 1-5     is amended to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 6.  DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER.  (a)  The commissioner shall
 1-7     carry out the policies of this Act, adopt rules necessary to
 1-8     implement this Act, enforce rules adopted by the commissioner
 1-9     [board], and certify those schools and course providers meeting the
1-10     requirements for a driver education school license, driving safety
1-11     school license, or both, or for a course provider license.  A
1-12     reference in another provision of this Act to a rule adopted by the
1-13     board means a rule adopted by the commissioner.
1-14           (b)  The commissioner by rule shall establish the curriculum
1-15     and designate the textbooks that must be used in a driver education
1-16     course.
1-17           (c)  The commissioner by rule shall require that information
1-18     relating to litter prevention be included in the curriculum of each
1-19     driver education and driving safety course.  The commissioner shall
1-20     consult the Department of Public Safety in developing rules under
1-21     this subsection.  [In addition, the commissioner may adopt and
1-22     enforce temporary rules under this Act, but the temporary rules are
1-23     valid only until the next meeting of the board.]
1-24           SECTION 2.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
 2-1     section, the commissioner of education shall adopt rules under the
 2-2     Texas Driver and Traffic Safety Education Act (Article 4413(29c),
 2-3     Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), as amended by this Act, not later
 2-4     than January 1, 2001.  A rule adopted by the State Board of
 2-5     Education under the Texas Driver and Traffic Safety Education Act
 2-6     (Article 4413(29c), Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes)  before the
 2-7     effective date of this Act remains in effect until superseded by a
 2-8     rule adopted by the commissioner of education.
 2-9           (b)  Not later than January 1, 2000, the commissioner of
2-10     education shall adopt rules under Subsection (c), Section 6, Texas
2-11     Driver and Traffic Safety Education Act (Article 4413(29c),
2-12     Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), as added by this Act.
2-13           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-14     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-15     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-16     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-17     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-18     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-19     passage, and it is so enacted.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 777 passed the Senate on
         May 5, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 0; and that the
         Senate concurred in House amendment on May 28, 1999, by the
         following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 777 passed the House, with
         amendment, on May 26, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 143,
         Nays 1, two present not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                     Date
         _______________________________
                   Governor