SRC-LBB, JEC, MSY S.B. 895 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 895
By: Bivins
Infrastructure Development and Security
8/24/2003
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current Texas law, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) does not
have the specific authority to approve computer-based driver education
programs.  S.B. 895 does not require DPS to develop or approve
computer-based driver education programs, but allows DPS to approve an
alternative program under existing procedures.  S.B. 895 specifies that
such alternative programs can include electronic methods. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Texas Department of Public
Safety is modified in SECTION 1 (Section 521.205, Transportation Code) of
this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subsections (a) and (c), Transportation Code, as
follows: 

(a)  Requires the Department of Public Safety (DPS) rules regarding
approval of a driver education course to provide that the person
conducting the course possess a valid license for the preceding three
years without the license having been suspended, revoked, or forfeited in
the past three years for traffic related violations, rather than being a
licensed driver, among other requirements. 

(c)  Adds Subdivision (3) to provide that certain rules adopted by DPS
must provide a method by which approval for delivering course materials by
an alternative method, including electronic means, is obtained. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.