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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to driver training and safety courses for commercial |
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driver's license recipients. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 1001, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1001.109 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1001.109. SAFE DRIVERS TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN |
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PERSONS SEEKING COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE. (a) The agency shall |
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establish and administer a safe drivers training program for |
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persons seeking to obtain a commercial driver's license. |
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(b) The curriculum for a driver education course that offers |
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training under the program must: |
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(1) require a student to meet the minimum requirements |
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for issuance of a commercial driver's license established under |
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Chapter 522, Transportation Code; |
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(2) consist of a five-week training period before a |
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student is issued a commercial driver's license; |
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(3) include on-the-job, behind-the-wheel training |
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specific to the class of vehicle the student will be licensed to |
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drive; and |
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(4) be accredited by the Professional Truck Driver |
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Institute. |
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(c) To be admitted to the program, a person must submit: |
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(1) a letter from a sponsor carrier trucking company |
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stating that the company has committed to hire the person on |
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completion of the program; or |
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(2) documentation that the person is a military |
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veteran. |
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(d) The agency shall award a grant to each person admitted |
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to the program. A person awarded a grant under this subsection who |
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does not complete the program is liable to the agency for the amount |
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of the grant. For purposes of this subsection, the agency shall |
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develop an agreement that includes a promissory note to establish |
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the grant recipient's promise to repay the amount of the grant if |
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the person does not complete the program. |
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(e) The agency may accept gifts, grants, and donations from |
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any source for the purposes of the program. The agency shall seek |
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private, local, and federal funding to support the establishment |
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and administration of the program. |
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(f) The agency may adopt rules as necessary for the |
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administration of this section. The rules shall provide for a |
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person to be forgiven from repayment of a grant under Subsection (d) |
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in event of a hardship. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |