SRC-BWC S.B. 577 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 577
77R4555 DWS-DBy: Bivins
Criminal Justice
2/22/2001
As Filed


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 which 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. 
As proposed, 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 521.001(a)(3), Transportation Code, by defining
"driver's license" to include an intermediate license.   

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 521.203, Transportation Code, as follows:

Sec. 521.203.  RESTRICTIONS ON CLASS A AND B LICENSES.  Prohibits the
Department of Public Safety (department) from issuing a Class A or Class B
driver's license to a person who is under 18 years of age unless the person
has held an intermediate license for at least six months preceding the date
of the application, and has a completed a driver training course approved
by the Texas Education Agency, rather than the Central Education Agency.   

SECTION 3.  Amends Chapter 521J, Transportation Code, by adding Section
521.2041, as follows: 

Sec. 521.2041.  ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON MINOR.  Authorizes the
department to issue a Class C driver's license to an applicant under 18
years of age only if the applicant has held an intermediate license for at
least six months preceding the date of the application.  Prohibits a person
under 18 years of age from operating a motor vehicle unless the person and
each passenger in the motor vehicle is secured by a safety belt or child
passenger safety seat system. 

SECTION 4.  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
and is the only person occupying the seat by the operator. 

SECTION 5.  Amends Chapter 521K, Transportation Code, by adding Section
521.2221, as follows: 

 Sec. 521.2221.  INTERMEDIATE LICENSE.  Authorizes the department to issue
an intermediate license to a person who meets certain requirements.
Prohibits a holder of an intermediate license from operating a motor
vehicle after 11 p.m. and before 5 a.m. except in certain circumstances. 

SECTION 6.  Amends Section 521.223(b), Transportation Code, by requiring an
applicant for a license under Subsection (a) to be at least 15 years of age
but under 16 years of age, rather than 15 years or older.   

SECTION 7.  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 license is governed by the law in
effect when the license was issued, and that law is continued in effect for
that purpose. 

SECTION 8.  Effective date:  January 1, 2002.