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


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 577
77R8431 DWS-DBy: Bivins
Criminal Justice
3-1-2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


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.
C.S.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 521.222(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 2.  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 from operating a motor vehicle,
other than a motorcycle or moped, unless the person and each passenger in
the motor vehicle is secured by a safety belt or child passenger safety
seat system.  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 vehicle after 11 p.m. and
before 5 a.m. unless the person is accompanied in the same manner required
by Section 521.222(d)(2) for operation of a motor vehicle by the holder of
an instruction permit.  Prohibits a person under 17 years of age who holds
a restricted motorcycle license or a moped license from operating a
motorcycle or moped after 11 p.m. and before 5 a.m. unless the person is in
sight of the person's parent or guardian or with a passenger.  Provides
that a restriction under this subsection does not apply if the operation of
the vehicle is necessary for certain purposes. 

SECTION 3.  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 4.  Effective date:  January 1, 2002.

 
SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.  Deletes proposed SECTION 1 and renumbers proposed SECTION 4 as
SECTION 1. 

SECTION 2.  Deletes proposed SECTION 2 and replaces it with new SECTION
regarding the operation of a vehicle by a person under 18 years of age. 

SECTION 3.  Renumbers proposed SECTION 7 as SECTION 3.

SECTION 4.  Renumbers proposed SECTION 8 as SECTION 4.

Differs from As Filed version by deleting proposed SECTIONS 3, 5, and 6.