BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                              S.B. 696

                                                                                                                                          By: Ogden

                                                                                                                               Law Enforcement

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Motor vehicle crashes is the leading cause of death for driver of 15-20 years of age.  According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, in 2002, fatal crashes involving 15-20 year old drivers increased 12 percent since 1992 and driver fatalities increased 21 percent.  Under current law, an applicant for a provisional driver's license must successfully have completed a driver education course and passed a written and vision test.  The driving test, however, is waived if the individual has taken the driver education course. 

 

S.B. 696 requires a provisional license holder, before being issued a renewal driver's license, to pass an examination administered by the Department of Public Safety, if the license holder has been convicted of a moving violation or the holder's license has been suspended, due to incidents involving the operation of a motor vehicle.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 521.273, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (c), to require the Department of Public Safety (Department) to require a provisional license holder, to pass the examination under Section 521.161(b)(2) before issuing a renewal driver's license to the holder if, in the year preceding the date of renewal of the license, the license holder:

 

• has been convicted of a moving violation;
• or had the holder's license suspended, due to an incident involving the operation of a motor vehicle, by the Department.

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 521.421, Transportation Code, by adding Subsections (i) and (j), as follows:

           

            (i) Requires an applicant applying for a renewal or reinstatement of a provisional license                to pay a $10 examination fee for the examination required by Section 521.161(b)(2).

 

            (j) Requires the fee collected under Subsection (i) to be deposited to the credit of a           special account in the general revenue fund and provides that it may be used only by the        Department for the administration of this chapter.

 

SECTION 3.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE 

 

September 1, 2005