81R647 JD-D
 
  By: Dutton H.B. No. 288
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to authorizing a justice or municipal court to grant an
  occupational driver's license.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 521.242, Transportation Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 521.242.  PETITION. (a) A person whose license has been
  suspended for a cause other than a physical or mental disability or
  impairment or a conviction under Section 49.04, Penal Code, may
  apply for an occupational license by filing a verified petition
  with the clerk of the justice [the county] court or municipal
  [district] court [with jurisdiction] in the precinct or
  municipality [county] in which:
               (1)  the person resides; or
               (2)  the offense occurred for which the license was
  suspended.
         (b)  [A person may apply for an occupational license by
  filing a verified petition only with the clerk of the county court
  or district court in which the person was convicted if:
               [(1)     the person's license has been automatically
  suspended or canceled under this chapter for a conviction of an
  offense under the laws of this state; and
               [(2)     the person has not been issued, in the 10 years
  preceding the date of the filing of the petition, more than one
  occupational license after a conviction under the laws of this
  state.
         [(c)]  A petition filed under this section must set forth in
  detail the person's essential need.
         (c) [(d)     A petition filed under Subsection (b) must state
  that the petitioner was convicted in that court for an offense under
  the laws of this state.
         [(e)]  The clerk of the court shall file the petition as in
  any other [civil] matter.
         (d) [(f)]  A court may not grant an occupational license for
  the operation of a commercial motor vehicle to which Chapter 522
  applies.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a petition requesting an occupational driver's license that is
  filed on or after the effective date of this Act. A petition for an
  occupational driver's license that is filed before the effective
  date of this Act is covered by the law in effect on the date the
  petition was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for
  that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.