BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1768
85R11847 JRR-D	By: Buckingham
	Veteran Affairs & Border Security
	4/21/2017
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

S.B. 1768 allows all veterans to obtain a commercial driver's license, free of charge, within one year of leaving military service in Texas. Many veterans need financial assistance while transitioning into a civilian career. Providing a fee exemption for commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) works to remedy the financial burden on Texas' military veterans and their families.

Currently, a Texas driver�s license or ID card may be provided free of charge to a veteran of the United States Armed Forces if the veteran:

1. Was honorably discharged.

2. Has a service-related disability of at least 60 percent.

3. Receives compensation from the United States because of the disability.

4. Is not subject to sex offender registration requirements.

However, the driver license fee exemption does not apply to CDLs. This bill includes all veterans within one year of leaving military service to be exempt from paying a CDL fee ($61).

As proposed, S.B. 1768 amends current law relating to waiving fees for an original commercial driver's license for veterans.

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 522.023(h), Transportation Code, to provide that an applicant who pays the applicable fee required by Section 522.029 (Fees) or for whom a waiver is authorized under Section 522.029(a-1), which is added by this Act, is entitled to three examinations of each element under Section 522.022 (License Requirements).

SECTION 2. Amends Section 522.029, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (a-1), as follows:

(a-1) Requires the Texas Department of Public Safety to waive the fee required by Subsection (a) (relating to the amount of the fee for a commercial driver�s license (CDL)) and any applicable administrative fee if the application is for an original issuance of a CDL and the applicant is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces who, within 365 days preceding the date of the application, was honorably discharged from the branch of service in which the person served.

SECTION 3. Makes application of Section 522.029(a-1), Transportation Code, as added by this Act, prospective.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2017.