S.B. 582 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 582 By: Williams Law Enforcement Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, certain types of suspensions are excluded from Driving While License Suspended/Invalid (DWLS/DWLI) prosecution. Senate Bill 582 replaces specific references to each section of the law with a general statement to include all suspensions, revocations, cancellations, denials, or probations. This bill also combines the charges of DWLS/DWLI into one charge under Chapter 521, Transportation Code. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS Senate Bill 582 amends Section 521.457, Transportation Code, to provide that a person commits an offense if the person operates a motor vehicle on a highway: _ during a period that the person's driver's license or privilege is suspended or revoked under any law of this state; _ while the person's driver's license is expired if the license expired during a period of suspension; _ after renewal of the license has been denied under any law of this state, if the person does not hold a license subsequently issued under this chapter; or _ if the person is subject to an order issued under any law of this state that prohibits the person from obtaining a driver's license. The bill also provides that, if it is shown on the trial of an offense under Section 521.457 that a person has previously been convicted of an offense under this section or under Section 601.371(a), Operation of a Motor Vehicle in Violation of Suspension, as that law existed before September 1, 2003, the offense is a Class A misdemeanor. Senate Bill 582 amends Section 601.371, Transportation Code, to make conforming changes necessary to effect the consolidation under Section 521.457 of offenses for driving without a valid license or driving while a license is suspended. EFFECTIVE DATE This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.