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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on the automatic suspension of driver's |
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licenses on conviction of a drug offense not related to the |
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operation of a motor vehicle and alternatives to automatic |
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suspension. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) The Department of Public Safety shall |
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conduct a study on the automatic suspension of the driver's license |
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of an individual who has been convicted of a drug offense not |
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related to the operation of a motor vehicle. The study shall: |
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(1) examine the feasibility of and benefits and |
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consequences to this state of repealing the law providing for the |
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automatic suspension of the driver's license of an individual who |
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has been convicted of a drug offense not related to the operation of |
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a motor vehicle; and |
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(2) recommend new graduated sanctions related to the |
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suspension of a driver's license on conviction of a drug offense not |
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related to the operation of a motor vehicle that provide for |
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punishment in proportion to the: |
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(A) severity of the offense; |
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(B) potential risk of harm to the public at the |
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time of the offense; and |
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(C) likelihood that the individual would commit |
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another drug offense in the future. |
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(b) In conducting the study under Subsection (a) of this |
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section, the Department of Public Safety shall consult with: |
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(1) the Texas Department of Transportation; |
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(2) a victim who was injured or the family member of a |
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victim who was killed due to a person who was under the influence of |
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drugs; |
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(3) a drug abuse treatment specialist; |
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(4) a criminal district attorney; |
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(5) a criminal district judge; |
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(6) a law enforcement officer; |
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(7) a department director of a community supervision |
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and corrections department; and |
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(8) a criminal defense attorney. |
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(c) Not later than December 1, 2018, the Department of |
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Public Safety shall submit a report containing the results of the |
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study conducted under Subsection (a) of this section, including any |
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legislative recommendations, to the governor, the lieutenant |
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governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the |
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appropriate standing committees of the senate and the house of |
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representatives. |
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SECTION 2. This Act expires December 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |