BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 696

79R5977 JRJ-F                                                                                                                 By: Ogden

                                                                                                 Transportation & Homeland Security

                                                                                                                                            4/26/2005

                                                                                                                                              As Filed

 

 

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

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. 

 

As proposed, S.B. 696 eliminates the right to waive a driving test and requires all applicants seeking to obtain a provisional driver's license to pass a driving test administered by the Department of Public Safety. 

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

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

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 521.165(c), Transportation Code, to provide that the completion of training and testing offered under this section does not exempt a driver's license applicant from the examination required by Section 521.161(b)(2) (Examination of License Applicants).  Deletes existing text relating to the director authorization to waive a driving test for an applicant who has successfully completed the training and testing conducted by a person certified by a person under Subsection (a), in issuing a driver's license for certain types of vehicles.

 

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

 

            (i) Requires an applicant applying for original issuance 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 of Public Safety for the administration of this chapter. 

 

SECTION 3.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 2005.