SRC-JBJ S.B. 1195 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1195
77R7893 DWS-FBy: Wentworth
Criminal Justice
3/21/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current Texas law, a driver with a learner's permit may operate a
vehicle while accompanied by a licensed driver 18 years of age or older.
There are no provisions prohibiting the accompanying licensed passenger
from sleeping while the driver, with a learner's permit, operates the
vehicle.  As proposed, S.B. 1195 requires a driver with a learner's permit
to be supervised by a licensed driver 18 years of age or older in order to
operate a vehicle by adding provisions making it an offense for the
accompanying licensed passenger to sleep, be intoxicated, or engage in an
activity that prevents the passenger from observing and responding to the
actions of the driver of the vehicle. 

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, Transportation Code, by adding
Subsection (f), to provide that a person who occupies the seat in a vehicle
by a holder of an instruction permit commits an offense if, while the
holder is operating the vehicle, the person sleeps; is intoxicated, as
defined by Section 49.01 (Definitions), Penal Code; or is engaged in an
activity that prevents the person from observing and responding to the
actions of the operator.   

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.