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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the amount of instruction time required for driver |
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training. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1001.001, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subdivision (3-a) to read as follows: |
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(3-a) "Course hour" means 50 minutes of classroom or |
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in-car instruction, as applicable, within a 60-minute period. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1001.101(b), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) A driver education course must require the student to |
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complete: |
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(1) seven course [7] hours of behind-the-wheel |
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instruction in the presence of a person who holds a driver education |
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instructor license or who meets the requirements for a driver |
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education course conducted by a parent or other individual under |
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Section 1001.112; |
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(2) seven course [7] hours of observation instruction |
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in the presence of a person who holds a driver education instructor |
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license or who meets the requirements for a driver education course |
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conducted by a parent or other individual under Section 1001.112; |
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and |
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(3) 30 course hours of behind-the-wheel instruction, |
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including at least 10 course hours of instruction that takes place |
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at 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 3. Section 1001.1015(b), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) A driver education course under Subsection (a) must: |
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(1) consist of six [be a six-hour] course hours; and |
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(2) include instruction in: |
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(A) alcohol and drug awareness; |
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(B) the traffic laws of this state; |
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(C) highway signs, signals, and markings that |
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regulate, warn, or direct traffic; and |
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(D) the issues commonly associated with motor |
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vehicle accidents, including poor decision-making, risk taking, |
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impaired driving, distraction, speed, failure to use a safety belt, |
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driving at night, failure to yield the right-of-way, and using a |
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wireless communication device while operating a vehicle. |
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SECTION 4. Section 1001.111(b), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) A driving safety course designed for drivers younger |
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than 25 years of age must: |
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(1) consist of four course hours and be a [four-hour] |
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live, interactive course focusing on issues specific to drivers |
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younger than 25 years of age; |
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(2) include instruction in: |
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(A) alcohol and drug awareness; |
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(B) the traffic laws of this state; |
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(C) the high rate of motor vehicle accidents and |
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fatalities for drivers younger than 25 years of age; |
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(D) the issues commonly associated with motor |
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vehicle accidents involving drivers younger than 25 years of age, |
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including poor decision-making, risk taking, impaired driving, |
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distraction, speed, failure to use a safety belt, driving at night, |
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failure to yield the right-of-way, and using a wireless |
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communication device while operating a vehicle, and the role of |
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peer pressure in those issues; |
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(E) the effect of poor driver decision-making on |
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the family, friends, school, and community of a driver younger than |
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25 years of age; and |
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(F) the importance of taking control of |
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potentially dangerous driving situations both as a driver and as a |
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passenger; and |
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(3) require a written commitment by the student to |
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family and friends that the student will not engage in dangerous |
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driving habits. |
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SECTION 5. Section 1001.112(a), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) The commission by rule shall provide for approval of a |
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driver education course conducted by the parent, stepparent, foster |
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parent, legal guardian, grandparent, or step-grandparent of a |
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person who is required to complete a driver education course to |
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obtain a Class C license. The rules must provide that the student |
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driver spend a minimum number of course hours in classroom and |
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behind-the-wheel instruction and that the person conducting the |
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course: |
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(1) possess a valid license for the preceding three |
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years that has not been suspended, revoked, or forfeited in the past |
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three years for an offense that involves the operation of a motor |
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vehicle; |
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(2) has not been convicted of: |
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(A) criminally negligent homicide; or |
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(B) driving while intoxicated; |
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(3) is not disabled because of mental illness; and |
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(4) does not have six or more points assigned to the |
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person's driver's license under Subchapter B, Chapter 708, |
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Transportation Code, at the time the person begins conducting the |
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course. |
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SECTION 6. The changes in law made by this Act apply to a |
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driver training course that begins on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. A driver training course that begins before the effective |
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date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the |
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course began, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |