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AN ACT
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relating to surcharges under the Driver Responsibility Program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 708.157(b), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The department by rule shall [may] offer a holder of a |
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driver's license on which a surcharge has been assessed an |
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incentive for compliance with the law and efforts at |
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rehabilitation, including a reduction of a surcharge or a decrease |
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in the length of an installment plan. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 708, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 708.159 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 708.159. ADVANCE PAYMENT OF SURCHARGES. (a) The |
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department shall offer an option for a single up-front payment to a |
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person who is assessed an annual surcharge under this chapter to |
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allow the person to pay in advance the total amount that will be |
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owed for the 36-month period for which the surcharge will be |
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assessed. |
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(b) Notice under Section 708.151 of an initial surcharge |
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imposed under this chapter must notify the driver's license holder |
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of: |
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(1) the total amount the person will owe for the |
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36-month period for which the surcharge will be assessed; and |
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(2) the availability of the advance payment option |
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under this section. |
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(c) If a person makes a single up-front payment under this |
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section in the amount specified in the notice under Subsection |
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(b)(1) and the person is not, in the 36-month period for which the |
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person made the up-front payment, subsequently convicted of an |
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offense requiring a surcharge or an increase in the amount due to |
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the department, the department is not required to: |
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(1) take any further action under Section 708.053, |
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708.102, 708.103, or 708.104, as applicable; or |
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(2) annually notify the person of the assessment of |
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the surcharge under Section 708.151. |
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SECTION 3. Section 708.159, Transportation Code, as added |
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by this Act, applies to any total surcharge amounts owed by a person |
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for a 36-month period under Chapter 708, Transportation Code, |
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regardless of whether the initial annual surcharge was assessed |
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before, on, or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 588 was passed by the House on April |
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15, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 137, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 588 was passed by the Senate on May |
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24, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |