By: Branch, Harless, Goolsby H.B. No. 84
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to issuance and renewal of a driver's license of an elderly
  person.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  This Act may be cited as "Katie's Law."
         SECTION 2.  Section 521.271, Transportation Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 521.271.  LICENSE EXPIRATION.  (a)  Each original
  driver's license and provisional license expires as follows:
               (1)  except as provided by Section 521.2711, a driver's
  license expires on the first birthday of the license holder
  occurring after the sixth anniversary of the date of the
  application;
               (2)  a provisional license expires on the earlier of:
                     (A)  the 18th birthday of the license holder; or
                     (B)  the first birthday of the license holder
  occurring after the date of the application;
               (3)  an instruction permit expires on the second
  birthday of the license holder occurring after the date of the
  application; and
               (4)  an occupational license expires on the first
  anniversary of the court order granting the license.
         (b)  Except as provided by Section 521.2711, a [A] driver's
  license that is renewed expires on the sixth anniversary of the
  expiration date before renewal.
         SECTION 3.   Subchapter M, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 521.2711 to read as follows:
         Sec. 521.2711.  LICENSE EXPIRATION: PERSON AT LEAST 90 YEARS
  OF AGE.  (a) A driver's license expires on the license holder's 90th
  birthday.
         (b)  An original driver's license of a person older than 90
  years of age expires on the second anniversary of the date of
  issuance.
         (c)  A driver's license of a person older than 90 years of age
  that is renewed expires on the second anniversary of the expiration
  date before renewal.
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter M, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 521.2712 to read as follows:
         Sec. 521.2712.  OFFICES.  A person required to renew a
  driver's license under Section 521.2711 must be given priority in
  line at a department office when renewing the license.
         SECTION 5.  Section 521.273, Transportation Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  The department may not renew a driver's license of a
  person who on the license's expiration date before renewal is at
  least 90 years of age unless the person passes an examination for
  the renewal.  The examination must include a screening of the
  person's vision.
         SECTION 6.  Section 521.274(b), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  A rule adopted under this section:
               (1)  may prescribe eligibility standards for renewal
  under this section; [and]
               (2)  may not permit a person subject to the
  registration requirements under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal
  Procedure, to register by mail or electronic means; and
               (3)  may not permit renewal by mail or electronic means
  of a driver's license of a person who on the license's expiration
  date before renewal is at least 90 years of age.
         SECTION 7.  Section 521.421, Transportation Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:
         (i)  The department shall prorate the fee for the issuance or
  renewal of a driver's license of a person who on the license's
  expiration date before renewal is at least 85 years of age to
  account for the expiration of the license on the person's 90th
  birthday. The fee for issuance or renewal of a driver's license of
  a person who is at least 90 years of age on the date of issuance or
  the expiration date before renewal, as applicable, is $8 for a
  license with an expiration date established under Section
  521.2711(b) or (c).
         SECTION 8.  Section 522.029, Transportation Code, is amended
  by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (j) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  The fee for a commercial driver's license or commercial
  driver learner's permit issued by the department is $60, except as
  provided by Subsections (f), [and] (h), and (j).
         (j)  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.
         SECTION 9.  Sections 522.051(a), (b), (c), and (d),
  Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Sections [Section] 522.033 and
  522.054, an original commercial driver's license or commercial
  driver learner's permit expires five years after the applicant's
  next birthday.
         (b)  Except as provided by Section 522.054, a [A] commercial
  driver's license or commercial driver learner's permit issued to a
  person holding a Texas Class A, B, C, or M license that would expire
  one year or more after the date of issuance of the commercial
  driver's license or commercial driver learner's permit expires five
  years after the applicant's next birthday.
         (c)  Except as provided by Section 522.054, a [A] commercial
  driver's license or commercial driver learner's permit issued to a
  person holding a Texas Class A, B, C, or M license that would expire
  less than one year after the date of issuance of the commercial
  driver's license or commercial driver learner's permit or that has
  been expired for less than one year expires five years after the
  expiration date shown on the Class A, B, C, or M license.
         (d)  Except as provided by Section 522.054, a [A] commercial
  driver's license or commercial driver learner's permit issued to a
  person holding a Texas Class A, B, C, or M license that has been
  expired for at least one year but not more than two years expires
  five years after the applicant's last birthday.
         SECTION 10.  Sections 522.052(b), (c), and (g),
  Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Except as provided by Section 522.054, a [A] renewal of
  a commercial driver's license that has been expired for less than
  one year expires five years after the expiration date shown on the
  commercial driver's license.
         (c)  Except as provided by Section 522.054, a [A] renewal of
  a commercial driver's license that has been expired for at least one
  year but not more than two years expires six years after the
  applicant's last birthday.
         (g)  A commercial driver's license issued under Section
  522.033 or to which Section 522.054 applies may not be renewed
  before the 60th day preceding the expiration date.
         SECTION 11.  Subchapter E, Chapter 522, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 522.054 to read as follows:
         Sec. 522.054.  LICENSE EXPIRATION: PERSON AT LEAST 90 YEARS
  OF AGE.  (a)  Each original commercial driver's license and
  commercial driver learner's permit of a person 90 years of age or
  older expires on the license holder's second birthday after the
  date of the license application.
         (b)  A commercial driver's license of a person 90 years of
  age or older that is renewed expires on the second anniversary of
  the expiration date before renewal.
         SECTION 12.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a driver's license, commercial driver's license, or commercial
  driver learner's permit issued or renewed on or after the effective
  date of this Act.
         SECTION 13.  (a)  As soon as possible after the effective
  date of this section, the Department of Public Safety shall conduct
  a study to determine the most efficient method of implementing the
  requirements of this Act.
         (b)  This section takes effect immediately if this Act
  receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
  house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  
  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
  effect, this section takes effect September 1, 2007.
         SECTION 14.  Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this
  Act takes effect January 1, 2008.