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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to education and examination requirements for the issuance |
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of a driver's license. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 521.141, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) A driver education school may administer an examination |
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to a student of that school under Section 521.1655 before the |
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student applies for an instruction permit or driver's license. |
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SECTION 2. Section 521.1655, Transportation Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and |
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(c) to read as follows: |
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(a) A driver education school licensed under Chapter 1001, |
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Education Code, [the Texas Driver and Traffic Safety Education Act
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(Article 4413(29c), Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes)] may administer |
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to a student of that school the [vision,] highway sign[,] and |
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traffic law parts of the examination required by Section 521.161 if |
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the student: |
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(1) is 15 years of age or older, but under 18 years of |
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age, and has completed and passed six hours of classroom |
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instruction of a driver education course approved under Chapter |
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1001, Education Code; or |
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(2) is 18 years of age or older and has completed and |
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passed a six-hour traffic law classroom driver education course |
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approved under Chapter 1001, Education Code. |
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(a-1) A person conducting a driver education course |
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approved under Section 521.205 may administer the highway sign and |
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traffic law parts of the examination required by Section 521.161 |
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if: |
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(1) the student is 15 years of age or older, but under |
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18 years of age, and has completed and passed the course; and |
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(2) the course is equivalent to a course under |
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Subsection (a)(1). |
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(c) A driver education school may electronically administer |
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an examination under this section provided that the school produces |
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an electronic record of the examination and retains the record for |
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the period required by the commissioner of education. |
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SECTION 3. Section 1001.101, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 1001.101. DRIVER EDUCATION COURSE CURRICULUM AND |
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TEXTBOOKS. (a) The commissioner by rule shall establish the |
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curriculum and designate the textbooks to be used in: |
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(1) a driver education course for minors and adults; |
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and |
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(2) a traffic law classroom driver education course |
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for adults. |
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(b) A driver education course under Subsection (a)(2) must: |
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(1) be a six-hour course; and |
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(2) include instruction in the following: |
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(A) driver's license requirements; |
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(B) vehicle inspection and registration; |
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(C) financial responsibility; |
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(D) highway signs that regulate, warn, or direct |
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traffic; and |
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(E) the traffic laws of this state, including the |
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laws and penalties concerning driving while intoxicated or driving |
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under the influence of alcohol. |
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(c) An approved driving safety course does not qualify as a |
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course under Subsection (a)(2). |
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SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply to an |
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application for the issuance of a driver's license filed on or after |
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the effective date of this Act. An application for the issuance of |
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a driver's license filed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date of the filing, and that law |
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is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |