BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 516
85R3181 BEE-F	By: Israel (Hinojosa)
	Transportation
	5/8/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

During the 81st session (2009), the legislature passed two separate bills changing the required age for driver's education courses. As a result, Section 152.142, Transportation Code, has two Subsection (d)s: one stating that all driver's applicants under 21 years of age must complete a driver's education course, and the other applying the same requirement to all applicants under the age of 25.

H.B. 516 will align statute with current practice by clarifying that all drivers younger than 25 years old must take a driver's education course.

H.B. 516 amends current law relating to the requirement that drivers younger than a certain age complete and pass a driver education course.

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 1001.055(a), Education Code, as follows:

(a) Requires the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to provide to certain entities driver education certificates or certificate numbers for certain purposes and to satisfy the requires of Sections 521.1601 (Drivers Education Required) and 521.201(a)(2) (relating to the Texas Department of Public Safety issuing a Class C driver's license to certain applicants under 18 years of age), Transportation Code. Deletes existing requirements under Sections 521.1601 (Driver Education Required), Transportation Code, as added by Chapter 1253 (H.B. 339), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, and 521.1601 (Driver Education Required), Transportation Code, as added by Chapter 1413 (S.B. 1317), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, from the requirements that must be satisfied by issuing TDLR-approved driver education certificates.

SECTION 2. Reenacts Section 521.142(d), Transportation Code, as amended by Chapters 1253 (H.B. 339) and 1413 (S.B. 1317), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, to require that the application, if the applicant is under 25 years of age, state whether the applicant has completed a driver education course required by Section 521.1601.

SECTION 3. Repealer: Section 521.1601, Transportation Code, as added by Chapter 1253 (H.B. 339), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009.

SECTION4. Effective date: September 1, 2017.