BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 90

By: Cook

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, and teen drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 are four times more likely to be in an accident than older drivers. The risk is particularly high during a teen's first year of driving. 

C.S.H.B. 90 changes the age and driver education requirements for a hardship license.  The bill is intended to prevent injuries and deaths due to vehicle crashes by ensuring that a teen applying for a hardship license has adequate training.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 90 amends the Transportation Code to increase the minimum age required to apply for a hardship license from 15 years to 15 years and 180 days. The bill requires an applicant to have passed a driver education course approved by the Texas Education Agency and conducted by a licensed driver education school, rather than a course approved by the Department of Public Safety (DPS). The bill increases the minimum age required to take the driver education course from 14 years to 15 years of age. The bill requires, rather than authorizes, DPS to suspend a hardship license if the holder of the license is convicted of a moving violation. The bill provides a short title, Aaron's Act, for purposes of citing its provisions.

C.S.H.B. 90 repeals Section 521.223(d), Transportation Code, authorizing DPS to waive the driver training course requirement and issue a temporary license under certain circumstances.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 90 contains a provision not included in the original providing a short title for purposes of citing its provisions.  The substitute differs from the original by repealing a provision authorizing the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to waive the driver training course requirement and issue a temporary hardship license under certain circumstances, whereas the original amends that provision.  The substitute differs from the original in  nonsubstantive ways.