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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to suspending the driver's licenses of certain persons |
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convicted of driving while intoxicated offenses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 521.292(a), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The department shall suspend the person's license if the |
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department determines that the person: |
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(1) has operated a motor vehicle on a highway: |
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(A) while the person's license was suspended, |
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canceled, disqualified, or revoked as the result of a conviction of |
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an offense involving the operation of a motor vehicle while |
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intoxicated;[,] or |
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(B) without a license after an application for a |
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license was denied as the result of a conviction of an offense |
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involving the operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated; |
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(2) is a habitually reckless or negligent operator of |
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a motor vehicle; |
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(3) is a habitual violator of the traffic laws; |
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(4) has permitted the unlawful or fraudulent use of |
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the person's license; |
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(5) has committed an offense in another state or |
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Canadian province that, if committed in this state, would be |
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grounds for suspension; |
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(6) has been convicted of two or more separate |
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offenses of a violation of a restriction imposed on the use of the |
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license; |
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(7) has been responsible as a driver for any accident |
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resulting in serious personal injury or serious property damage; |
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(8) is under 18 years of age and has been convicted of |
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two or more moving violations committed within a 12-month period; |
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or |
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(9) has committed an offense under Section 545.421. |
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SECTION 2. Section 521.293, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 521.293. PERIOD OF SUSPENSION UNDER SECTION 521.292. |
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If [(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), if] the person does |
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not request a hearing, the period of license suspension under |
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Section 521.292 is 90 days. |
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[(b)
If the department determines that the person engaged in
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conduct described by Section 521.292(a)(1), the period of license
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suspension is extended for an additional period of the lesser of:
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[(1) the term of the original suspension; or
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[(2) one year.] |
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SECTION 3. Section 521.312(b), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c)[, Section
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521.293(b),] or Subchapter O, the department may not suspend a |
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license for a period that exceeds one year. |
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SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a determination to suspend a driver's license made by the |
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Department of Public Safety on or after the effective date of this |
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Act. A determination to suspend a driver's license made before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the |
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determination was made, and the former law is continued in effect |
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for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |