BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 298
Transportation & Homeland Security
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
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. 298 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
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 521.222, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (g), 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, 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, 2005.