HBA-TBM S.B. 154 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 154 By: Truan Public Safety 4/4/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the need for organ and tissue transplants far exceeds the number of donated organs and tissue. Providing information about anatomical gifts in the curriculum of driver education and driving safety courses can increase awareness of this need and remind students of one of the most devastating consequences of unsafe driving. Senate Bill 154 requires information regarding anatomical gifts to be included in the curriculum of driver education and driving safety courses. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the commissioner of education in SECTION 1 (Section 6, Article 4413(29c), V.T.C.S.) and SECTION 2 of this bill. ANALYSIS Senate Bill 154 amends the Texas Driver and Traffic Safety Education Act to require the commissioner of education or the commissioner's designee (commissioner) by rule to require that information relating to anatomical gifts be included in the curriculum of each driver education and driving safety course. The bill sets forth the contents of the added curriculum. The bill requires the commissioner to consult with the Department of Public Safety and the Texas Department of Health in developing rules to implement these provisions and to adopt the rules not later than January 1, 2002. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.