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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requirements for a driver education course and the |
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eligibility of persons under 18 years of age to operate a motor |
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vehicle at certain times. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1001.101, Education Code, as amended by |
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Chapters 1253 (H.B. 339) and 1413 (S.B. 1317), Acts of the 81st |
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Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, is reenacted and amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 1001.101. ADULT AND MINOR DRIVER EDUCATION COURSE |
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CURRICULUM AND TEXTBOOKS. (a) The commissioner by rule shall |
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establish or approve the curriculum and designate the textbooks to |
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be used in a driver education course for minors and adults, |
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including a driver education course conducted by a school district, |
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driver education school, or parent or other individual under |
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Section 521.205, Transportation Code. |
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(b) A driver education course must require the student to |
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complete: |
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(1) 7 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction in the |
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presence of a person who holds a driver education instructor |
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license or who meets the requirements imposed under Section |
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521.205, Transportation Code; |
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(2) 7 hours of observation instruction in the presence |
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of a person who holds a driver education instructor license or who |
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meets the requirements imposed under Section 521.205, |
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Transportation Code; and |
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(3) 30 [20] hours of behind-the-wheel instruction, |
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including at least 10 hours of instruction that takes place at |
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night, in the presence of an adult who meets the requirements of |
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Section 521.222(d)(2), Transportation Code. |
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SECTION 2. Section 545.424(a-1), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a-1) A person under 18 years of age may not operate a motor |
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vehicle [during the 12-month period following issuance of an
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original Class A, B, or C driver's license to the person]: |
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(1) 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) with more than one passenger in the vehicle under |
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21 years of age who is not a family member. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by Section 1001.101(b), |
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Education Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to a driver |
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education course that begins on or after the effective date of this |
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Act. A course that begins before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the course began, and that |
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law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |