BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 180
80R8407 MTB-F By: Carona, Seliger
Transportation & Homeland Security
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, Section 521.271, Transportation Code, requires a driver's license to be renewed every six years, but there is no requirement for elderly drivers to retake vision and field tests in order to obtain a renewal. There has been increasing concern over public safety in regards to elderly drivers. Insurance companies have reported that drivers 80 years of age and above are high risk drivers as their sight and responsiveness deteriorates. Percentages that show older drivers are involved in accidents at lower rates than teen drivers may be misleading since miles traveled and senior citizens' preference to drive only during daylight are not taken into account. If one looks at accidents per miles driven, elderly drivers have more accidents, including fatal accidents, than any other group. By 2004, half of the states passed some sort of elderly driver restrictions, usually requiring older motorists to renew their licenses more often and to have their vision checked.
C.S.S.B. 180 requires drivers 85 years of age and above to pass a vision and driving test in order to have their licenses renewed.
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. Authorizes this Act to be cited as "Katie's Law."
SECTION 2. Amends Section 521.271, Transportation Code, as follows:
Sec. 521.271. LICENSE EXPIRATION. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 3. Amends Subchapter M, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, by adding Section 521.2711, as follows:
Sec. 521.2711. LICENSE EXPIRATION: PERSON AT LEAST 85 YEARS OF AGE. Provides that each original driver's license of a person 85 years of age or older expires on the license holder's second birthday after the date of the license application. Provides that a driver's license of a person 85 years of age or older that is renewed expires on the second anniversary of the expiration date before renewal.
SECTION 4. Amends Section 521.273, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (c) to authorize the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to require a license holder 85 years of age or older to pass a written or driving examination for the renewal.
SECTION 5. Amends Section 521.274(b), Transportation Code, by prohibiting a rule adopted under this section from permitting renewal by mail or electronic means of a driver's license of a person who is 79 years of age or older. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 6. Amends Section 521.421, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (i) to establish that the fee for issuance or renewal of a driver's license is $8 for a license with an expiration date established under Section 521.2711.
SECTION 7. Amends Section 522.029, Transportation Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (j) to establish that the fee for issuance or renewal of a commercial driver's license or commercial driver learner's permit is $25 for a license with an expiration date established under Section 522.054. Makes conforming changes.
SECTION 8. Amends Sections 522.051(a), (b), (c), and (d), Transportation Code, to make conforming changes.
SECTION 9. Amends Sections 522.052(b), (c), and (g), Transportation Code, to make conforming changes.
SECTION 10. Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 522, Transportation Code, by adding Section 522.054, as follows:
Sec. 522.054. LICENSE EXPIRATION: PERSON AT LEAST 85 YEARS OF AGE. Provides that each original commercial driver's license and commercial driver learner's permit of a person 85 years of age or older expires on the license holder's second birthday after the date of the license application. Provides that a commercial driver's license of a person 85 years of age or older that is renewed expires on the second anniversary of the expiration date before renewal.
SECTION 11. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 12. Effective date: September 1, 2007.