|   | 
|   | 
|   | 
| 
 
			 | 
AN ACT
 | 
| 
 
			 | 
relating to the collection of surcharges assessed under the driver  | 
| 
 
			 | 
responsibility program. | 
| 
 
			 | 
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
| 
 
			 | 
       SECTION 1.  Subsection (b), Section 708.153, Transportation  | 
| 
 
			 | 
Code, is amended to read as follows: | 
| 
 
			 | 
       (b)  A rule under this section: | 
| 
 
			 | 
             (1)  may not permit a person to pay a surcharge over a  | 
| 
 
			 | 
period of more than 36 consecutive months; and | 
| 
 
			 | 
             (2)  may provide that if the person fails to make a  | 
| 
 
			 | 
required installment payment, the department may reestablish the  | 
| 
 
			 | 
installment plan or declare the amount of the unpaid surcharge  | 
| 
 
			 | 
immediately due and payable. | 
| 
 
			 | 
       SECTION 2.  Section 708.155, Transportation Code, is amended  | 
| 
 
			 | 
to read as follows: | 
| 
 
			 | 
       Sec. 708.155.  CONTRACTS FOR COLLECTION OF SURCHARGES.   | 
| 
 
			 | 
(a)  The department may enter into a contract with a private  | 
| 
 
			 | 
attorney or a public or private vendor for the provision of services  | 
| 
 
			 | 
for the collection of surcharges receivable and related costs under  | 
| 
 
			 | 
this chapter. | 
| 
 
			 | 
       (b)  To provide for alternative or additional collection  | 
| 
 
			 | 
methods for surcharges receivable, the department may amend a  | 
| 
 
			 | 
contract entered into under Subsection (a) and enter into  | 
| 
 
			 | 
additional contracts under Subsection (a). | 
| 
 
			 | 
       (c)  The total amount of compensation under a contract  | 
| 
 
			 | 
entered into under this section may not exceed 30 percent of the  | 
| 
 
			 | 
amount of the surcharges and related costs collected. | 
| 
 
			 | 
       SECTION 3.  Subchapter D, Chapter 708, Transportation Code,  | 
| 
 
			 | 
is amended by adding Section 708.157 to read as follows: | 
| 
 
			 | 
       Sec. 708.157.  AMNESTY AND INCENTIVES.  (a)  The department  | 
| 
 
			 | 
by rule may establish a periodic amnesty program for holders of a  | 
| 
 
			 | 
driver's license on which a surcharge has been assessed for certain  | 
| 
 
			 | 
offenses, as determined by the department. | 
| 
 
			 | 
       (b)  The department by rule may offer a holder of a driver's  | 
| 
 
			 | 
license on which a surcharge has been assessed an incentive for  | 
| 
 
			 | 
compliance with the law and efforts at rehabilitation, including a  | 
| 
 
			 | 
reduction of a surcharge or a decrease in the length of an  | 
| 
 
			 | 
installment plan. | 
| 
 
			 | 
       (c)  The department by rule may establish an indigency  | 
| 
 
			 | 
program for holders of a driver's license on which a surcharge has  | 
| 
 
			 | 
been assessed for certain offenses, as determined by the  | 
| 
 
			 | 
department. | 
| 
 
			 | 
       SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act to Section  | 
| 
 
			 | 
708.155, Transportation Code, do not affect the entitlement of a  | 
| 
 
			 | 
private attorney or a public or private vendor with whom the  | 
| 
 
			 | 
Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas contracts under  | 
| 
 
			 | 
that section immediately before September 1, 2007, to bid on the  | 
| 
 
			 | 
additional contract. | 
| 
 
			 | 
       SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. | 
| 
 		
			 | 
 | 
| 
 		
			 | 
 | 
|   | 
|   | 
|   | 
|   | 
______________________________ | 
______________________________ | 
|   | 
   President of the Senate | 
Speaker of the House      | 
|   | 
| 
 		
			 | 
       I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1723 passed the Senate on  | 
| 
 		
			 | 
April 25, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 0; and that  | 
| 
 		
			 | 
the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 24, 2007, by the  | 
| 
 		
			 | 
following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0. | 
| 
 		
			 | 
 | 
|   | 
|   | 
______________________________ | 
|   | 
Secretary of the Senate     | 
|   | 
| 
 		
			 | 
       I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1723 passed the House, with  | 
| 
 		
			 | 
amendments, on May 17, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 144,  | 
| 
 		
			 | 
Nays 0, two present not voting. | 
| 
 		
			 | 
 | 
|   | 
|   | 
______________________________ | 
|   | 
Chief Clerk of the House    | 
|   | 
| 
 		
			 | 
 | 
|   | 
| 
 		
			 | 
Approved: | 
| 
 		
			 | 
 | 
| 
 		
			 | 
______________________________  | 
| 
 		
			 | 
            Date | 
| 
 		
			 | 
 | 
| 
 		
			 | 
 | 
| 
 		
			 | 
______________________________  | 
| 
 		
			 | 
          Governor |