SRC-JEC S.B. 222 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 222
77R1581 JD-DBy: Carona
Jurisprudence
3/5/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

According to the American Medical Association, from 1985 to 1996, 64
percent of child passenger deaths involving a drinking driver occurred
while the child was riding with a drinking driver.  As proposed, S.B. 222
increases the penalty for drunk driving to a Class A misdemeanor if a
person younger than 16 was in the vehicle driven by the defendant. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 49.09(a), Penal Code, to make an offense of
driving while intoxicated a Class A misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial
of the offense that at the time of the offense a person younger than 16 was
a passenger in the motor vehicle being operated by the defendant. 

SECTION 2.   Effective date:  September 1, 2001.
  Makes application of this Act prospective.