83R7338 JRR-D

By: Pickett H.B. No. 2415

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the expiration of a driver's license and to the disposition of fees assessed for the renewal of driver's licenses.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 521.271(a), (a-2), and (b), Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) Each original driver's license, provisional license, instruction permit, or occupational driver's license issued to an applicant who is a citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the United States or a refugee or asylee lawfully admitted into the United States expires as follows:

(1) except as provided by Section 521.2711, a driver's license expires on the first birthday of the license holder occurring after the fourth [sixth] anniversary of the date of the application;

(2) a provisional license expires on the 18th birthday of the license holder;

(3) an instruction permit expires on the 18th birthday of the license holder;

(4) an occupational driver's license expires on the first anniversary of the court order granting the license; and

(5) unless an earlier date is otherwise provided, a driver's license issued to a person whose residence or domicile is a correctional facility or a parole facility expires on the first birthday of the license holder occurring after the first anniversary of the date of issuance.

(a-2) Each original driver's license issued to an applicant who is not a citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the United States or a refugee or asylee lawfully admitted into the United States expires on:

(1) the earlier of:

(A) the first birthday of the license holder occurring after the fourth [sixth] anniversary of the date of the application; or

(B) the expiration date of the license holder's lawful presence in the United States as determined by the appropriate United States agency in compliance with federal law; or

(2) the first anniversary of the date of issuance, if there is no definite expiration date for the applicant's authorized stay in the United States.

(b) Except as provided by Section 521.2711, a driver's license that is renewed expires on the earlier of:

(1) the fourth [sixth] anniversary of the expiration date before renewal if the applicant is a citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the United States or a refugee or asylee lawfully admitted into the United States;

(1-a) for an applicant not described by Subdivision (1):

(A) the earlier of:

(i) the fourth [sixth] anniversary of the expiration date before renewal; or

(ii) the expiration date of the applicant's authorized stay in the United States; or

(B) the first anniversary of the date of issuance, if there is no definite expiration date for the applicant's authorized stay in the United States; or

(2) for a renewal driver's license issued to a person whose residence or domicile is a correctional facility or a parole facility, the first birthday of the license holder occurring after the first anniversary of the date of issuance unless an earlier date is otherwise provided.

SECTION 2. Section 521.427, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

(c) Subsection (a) does not apply to one-third of a fee collected under Section 521.421(a) for renewal of a license. The department shall remit the portion of a fee described by this subsection to the comptroller for deposit to the credit of the state highway fund.

SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an original or renewal driver's license issued on or after September 1, 2013. An original or renewal driver's license issued before September 1, 2013, is governed by the law as it existed immediately before September 1, 2013, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.