BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 860

By: Turner, Chris

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

According to a national trade association that focuses on the truckload carrying industry, there are over 200,000 unfilled trucking jobs in the United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists commercial trucking as a high-demand job, with more than 300,000 additional positions expected over the next decade. In response to this demand, the U.S. Congress recently passed the Military Commercial Driver's License Act of 2012, which authorizes states to waive residency requirements for a commercial driver's license issued to an active duty or reserve service member whose temporary or permanent duty station is located in the respective state.  H.B. 860 seeks to provide a smoother transition for service members whose duty station is located in Texas when finding civilian employment after leaving the military by waiving the current residency requirement for the issuance of a commercial driver's license.

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

H.B. 860 amends Transportation Code to authorize the Department of Public Safety to issue a commercial driver’s license to a member of the U.S. military, including a member of the National Guard or a reserve or auxiliary unit of any branch of the U.S. military, who has a domicile in another state, whose temporary or permanent duty station is located in Texas, and who has met the other requirements for a license, including having passed knowledge and skills tests for driving a commercial motor vehicle that comply with minimal federal standards established by certain federal regulations and having satisfied the requirements imposed by an applicable federal act, federal regulation, or state law. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.