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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the renewal, expiration, and suspension of driver's |
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licenses; increasing a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter M, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 521.2719 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 521.2719. EXPIRED LICENSES. (a) A person may renew an |
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expired driver's license if the person's license has not been |
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expired for more than 10 years. |
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(b) A person whose driver's license has been expired for |
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more than 10 years may obtain a new driver's license by complying |
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with the requirements and procedures for obtaining an original |
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driver's license. |
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SECTION 2. Section 521.421, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (l) to read as follows: |
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(l) If a person is applying for the renewal of a driver's |
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license that has been expired for more than 90 days, the fee for the |
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renewal driver's license is increased by $20. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 706, Transportation Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 706.0045 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 706.0045. PERIOD OF DENIAL OF RENEWAL OF DRIVER'S |
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LICENSE. (a) Notwithstanding Section 706.004(a) or 706.006(c), |
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the department may deny renewal of a person's driver's license under |
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this chapter only until the earlier of: |
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(1) the date the department receives a clearance |
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notice under Section 706.005; or |
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(2) the 10th anniversary of the date the department or |
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a vendor described by Subsection (b) first received notice under |
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this chapter that there was cause to deny renewal of the person's |
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driver's license. |
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(b) This subsection applies only if the department |
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contracts with a vendor under Section 706.008 to implement this |
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chapter. Each month, the vendor shall: |
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(1) identify each person whose license may no longer |
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be denied renewal because of the expiration of the time period |
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described by Subsection (a)(2); and |
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(2) provide the name of each person identified under |
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Subdivision (1) to: |
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(A) the department; and |
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(B) the applicable court in which the person |
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failed to appear based on a complaint or citation or failed to pay |
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or satisfy a judgment ordering the payment of a fine and cost in the |
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manner ordered by the court in a matter involving an offense |
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described by Section 706.002(a). |
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SECTION 4. Section 706.005, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) A political subdivision shall immediately notify the |
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department that there is no cause to continue to deny renewal of a |
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person's driver's license based on the person's previous failure to |
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appear or failure to pay or satisfy a judgment ordering the payment |
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of a fine and cost in the manner ordered by the court in a matter |
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involving an offense described by Section 706.002(a), on payment of |
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a reimbursement fee, or on a finding by the court that the person is |
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indigent and not required to pay a reimbursement fee, as provided by |
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Section 706.006 and: |
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(1) the perfection of an appeal of the case for which |
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the warrant of arrest was issued or judgment arose; |
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(2) the dismissal of the charge for which the warrant |
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of arrest was issued or judgment arose, other than a dismissal with |
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prejudice by motion of the appropriate prosecuting attorney for |
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lack of evidence; |
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(3) the posting of bond or the giving of other security |
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to reinstate the charge for which the warrant was issued; |
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(4) the payment or discharge of the fine and cost owed |
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on an outstanding judgment of the court; [or] |
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(5) if the person's license is denied renewal solely |
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because of the person's previous failure to appear, the person's |
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appearance in court in any manner authorized by law for the |
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underlying offense for which the person previously failed to |
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appear; or |
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(6) any other [suitable] arrangement to satisfy [pay] |
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the fine and cost within the court's discretion, including any |
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instance in which the person enters into an arrangement with the |
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court to satisfy the fine and cost under a payment plan or by |
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performing community service. |
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(c) A political subdivision that notifies the department |
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that there is no cause to continue to deny renewal of a person's |
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driver's license under Subsection (a) may notify the department if |
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the court subsequently determines the person failed to complete an |
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arrangement to satisfy the fine and cost under Subsection (a)(6), |
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including failure to complete payment plan installments or failure |
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to complete community service. On receiving the necessary |
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information from the political subdivision under this subsection, |
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the department may deny renewal of the person's driver's license. |
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SECTION 5. (a) Sections 521.2719 and 521.421(l), |
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Transportation Code, as added by this Act, apply only to an |
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application for a renewal driver's license that is submitted on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. An application that is |
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submitted before the effective date of this Act is governed by the |
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law in effect when the application was submitted, and the former law |
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is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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(b) Section 706.0045, Transportation Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies to a determination to deny renewal of a driver's |
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license that is made by the Department of Public Safety of the State |
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of Texas before, on, or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |