By:  Ogden                                                        S.B. No. 946


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain requirements for obtaining a driver's license 
for persons completing certain driver education courses.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 521.165, Transportation Code, is amended 
by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
	(d)  This section does not allow the director to waive a 
driving test for an applicant who has completed a driver education 
course approved by the department under Section 521.205.
	SECTION 2.  Subsection (d), Section 521.205, Transportation 
Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(d)  Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, 
completion [Completion] of a driver education course approved under 
this section has the same effect under this chapter as completion of 
a driver education course approved by the Texas Education Agency.
	SECTION 3.  Section 521.421, Transportation Code, is amended 
by adding Subsections (i) and (j) to read as follows:
	(i)  In addition to the fee in Subsection (c), an applicant 
applying for original issuance of a provisional license who has 
completed a driver education course under Section 521.205 must pay 
a $5 examination fee for the examination required by Section 
521.161(b)(2).
	(j)  The fee collected under Subsection (i) must be deposited 
to the credit of a special account in the general revenue fund and 
may be used only by the department for the administration of this 
chapter.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003, and 
applies only to an application for a driver's license submitted on 
or after that date.