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2-7 effective date of this Act remains in effect until superseded by a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