BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                      S.B. 2041

81R11700 JTS-D                                                                                                     By: Ellis, Carona

Transportation & Homeland Security

4/3/2009

As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently, the Texas driver's license examination does not contain questions about motorists' rights and responsibilities in relation to bicyclists.

As proposed, S.B. 2041 requires that questions testing the applicant's knowledge of motorists' rights and responsibilities in relation to bicyclists are asked of every applicant for a Texas driver's license.

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.  Amends Sections 521.161(b) and (c), Transportation Code, as follows:

(b)  Requires the examination to include knowledge of motorists' rights and responsibilities in relation to bicyclists.

(c)  Requires the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to give each applicant the option of taking the parts, rather than the traffic law and highway sign part, of the examination under Subsections (b)(1)(B) (relating to the applicant's ability to identify and understand certain signs), (C) (relating to the applicant's knowledge of the traffic laws of this state), and (D) (relating to knowledge of the motorists' rights and responsibilities in relation to bicyclists) in writing in addition to or instead of through a mechanical, electronic, or other testing method.

SECTION 2.  Provides that a driver's examination administered by DPS is not required to include a question required by Section 521.161(b)(1)(D), Transportation Code, as added by this Act, if the examination is administered before February 1, 2010.

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2009.