AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
According to recent data from the Truckload Carriers Association, 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 by 2020. In response to this demand, the Military Commercial Driver's License Act was passed by Congress and signed into law last fall. That legislation allows states to waive residency requirements for commercial driver's licenses issued to service members who are active duty or reservists. The intent of the law is to make it easier for service members to find employment after leaving the military.
S.B. 229 seeks to allow commercial driver's licenses to be issued to active or reserve service members, whose temporary or permanent duty station is located in Texas, by waiving the current residency requirement.
S.B. 229 amends current law relating to an exception to the domicile requirement for issuance of a commercial driver's license for certain military personnel.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 522.022, Transportation Code, as follows:
Sec. 522.022. LICENSE REQUIREMENTS. Prohibits the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas from issuing a commercial driver's license other than a nonresident license to a person unless the person has fulfilled certain requirements, including that the person has a domicile in this state or in another state and is a member of the United States armed forces, including a member of the National Guard or a reserve or auxiliary unit of any branch of the armed forces, whose temporary or permanent duty station is located in this state. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2013.