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.