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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the licensing and operation of motor vehicles by |
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minors. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter N, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 521.2965 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 521.2965. REVOCATION: PERSON UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE. |
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(a) Unless the person complies with the requirements of Subsection |
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(b), the department shall revoke the license of a person under 18 |
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years of age who is enrolled at a public school, home school, or |
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private school if: |
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(1) the person's parent or guardian notifies the |
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department that the person has been absent from school for at least |
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10 consecutive instructional days; or |
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(2) a school administrator or law enforcement officer |
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notifies the department that the person has been absent from school |
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for at least 20 consecutive instructional days. |
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(b) The department shall notify the person in writing of a |
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truancy report made against the person under Subsection (a). The |
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revocation of a license by the department under this section |
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becomes effective on the 30th day after the date of the notice, |
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unless before that date the person provides to the department |
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information required by the department to demonstrate the person's |
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school attendance. |
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(c) The notice provided to a person under Subsection (b) |
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must: |
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(1) state that the revocation becomes effective on the |
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30th day after the date of the notice; and |
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(2) contain information regarding the procedures and |
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documentation that the person may provide to the department in |
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order to avoid the revocation of the person's license. |
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SECTION 2. Section 545.424, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (a-1) |
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and (b-1) to read as follows: |
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(a) A person under 18 years of age may not operate a motor |
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vehicle while using a wireless communications device, except in |
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case of emergency. |
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(a-1) A person under 18 years of age may not operate a motor |
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vehicle[:
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[(1)] during the 12-month period following issuance of |
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an original Class A, B, or C driver's license to the person: |
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(1) [(A)] after midnight and before 5 a.m. unless the |
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operation of the vehicle is necessary for the operator to attend or |
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participate in employment or a school-related activity or because |
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of a medical emergency; or |
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(2) [(B)] with more than one passenger in the vehicle |
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under 21 years of age who is not a family member[; or
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[(2)
while using a wireless communications device,
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except in case of emergency]. |
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(b) A person under 17 years of age who holds a restricted |
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motorcycle license or moped license may not operate a motorcycle or |
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moped while using a wireless communications device, except in case |
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of emergency. |
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(b-1) A person under 17 years of age who holds a restricted |
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motorcycle license or moped license, during the 12-month period |
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following the issuance of an original motorcycle license or moped |
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license to the person, may not operate a motorcycle or moped[:
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[(1)] after midnight and before 5 a.m. unless: |
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(1) [(A)] the person is in sight of the person's parent |
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or guardian; or |
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(2) [(B)] the operation of the vehicle is necessary |
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for the operator to attend or participate in employment or a |
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school-related activity or because of a medical emergency[; or
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[(2)
while using a wireless communications device,
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except in case of emergency]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 521.271(a-1), Transportation Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |