BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1372

By: Koop

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that there is no adequate statewide curriculum in place for driver education courses regarding law enforcement procedures. C.S.H.B. 1372 seeks to address this issue by requiring certain information to be included in the curriculum of each driver education and driving safety course. 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1372 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation, in consultation with the Department of Public Safety and regional leaders in driver education and law enforcement appointed under the bill's provisions, to require by rule the inclusion of information relating to law enforcement procedures for traffic stops in the curriculum of each driver education and driving safety course. The bill requires the curriculum to include a demonstration of the proper actions to be taken during a traffic stop and information regarding appropriate interactions with law enforcement. The bill requires the advisory committee appointed by the commission for purposes of advising the commission and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on rules and educational and technical matters relevant to the administration of driver and traffic safety education to appoint regional leaders in the driver education industry and in law enforcement to assist in the development of the driver education and driving safety course curriculum requirements under the bill's provisions. The bill requires the commission to adopt the required rules not later than March 1, 2018, and requires each provider of a driver education course or driving safety course to submit not later than September 1, 2018, the adopted curriculum required under the bill's provisions to the commission for approval.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 1372 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 1001, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 1001.109 to read as follows: Sec. 1001.109.  INFORMATION RELATING TO TRAFFIC STOPS.  The commission by rule, in consultation with the Department of Public Safety, shall require that information relating to law enforcement procedures for traffic stops be included in the curriculum of each driver education course and driving safety course. The curriculum must include a demonstration of the proper actions to be taken during a traffic stop and information regarding appropriate interactions with law enforcement.	SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 1001, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 1001.109 to read as follows: Sec. 1001.109.  INFORMATION RELATING TO TRAFFIC STOPS.  (a)  The commission by rule, in consultation with the Department of Public Safety and regional leaders in driver education and law enforcement appointed under Subsection (b), shall require that information relating to law enforcement procedures for traffic stops be included in the curriculum of each driver education and driving safety course.  The curriculum must include a demonstration of the proper actions to be taken during a traffic stop and information regarding appropriate interactions with law enforcement. (b)  The advisory committee appointed under Section 1001.058, in consultation with the commission, shall appoint regional leaders in the driver education industry and in law enforcement to assist in the development of the driver education and driving safety course curriculum requirements under Subsection (a).
No equivalent provision.	SECTION 2.  (a) Not later than March 1, 2018, the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall adopt the rules required by Section 1001.109(a), Education Code, as added by this Act. (b)  Not later than September 1, 2018, each provider of a driver education course or driving safety course shall submit the curriculum adopted pursuant to Section 1001.109(a), Education Code, as added by this Act, to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation for approval.
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.	SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.