SRC-BWC S.B. 577 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 577 By: Bivins Criminal Justice 6/13/2001 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of Texas teenagers. In 1998, more than 320 Texas teens, ages 15 through 18, died in motor vehicle crashes and another 40,324 were injured. More than 40 percent of teens' fatal crashes occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Single vehicle collisions represent nearly half of fatal crashes involving 16- and 17-year-old drivers. Those crashes can be linked to driver error, speed, peer passenger distraction, and lack of experience. The crash involvement rate for teens is more than double that for all other Texas drivers. S.B. 577 creates a graduated driver's license system that restricts teen drivers to certain driving activities during certain times of the day and eases teens into the driving experience by phasing-in driving privileges and minimizing the exposure to high-risk situations. 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 521.204, Transportation Code, to prohibit the Department of Public Safety (department) from issuing a Class A, B, or C driver's license other than a hardship license to an applicant under 18 years of age unless the applicant has held an instruction permit or hardship license for at least six months preceding the date of the application. SECTION 2. Amends Section 521.222(d), Transportation Code, by providing that an instruction permit entitles the holder to operate a type of motor vehicle on a highway while the holder is accompanied by a person occupying the seat by the operator who is 21, rather than 18, years of age or older. SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 545I, Transportation Code, by adding Section 545.424, as follows: Sec. 545.424. OPERATION OF VEHICLE BY PERSON UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE. Prohibits a person under 18 years of age, during the six-month period following issuance of an original Class A, B, or C driver's license to the person, from operating a motor vehicle under certain circumstances. Prohibits a person under 17 years of age who holds a restricted motorcycle license or moped license, during the six-month period following the issuance of an original motorcycle or moped after midnight and before 5 a.m. except under certain circumstances. Provides that this section does not apply to certain individuals. Provides that for purposes of this section, employment includes work on a family farm by a member of the family that owns or operates the farm. Prohibits a peace officer from stopping a vehicle or detaining the operator of a vehicle for the sole purpose of determining whether the operator of the vehicle has violated this section. SECTION 4. Provides that this Act does not affect the validity or effect of a driver's license, including an instruction permit, issued before the effective date of the Act. Provides that a license issued before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the license was issued, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 4. Effective date: January 1, 2002.