| 1 | 1 | | S.B. No. 2041 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | AN ACT |
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| 5 | 5 | | relating to requiring an applicant for a driver's license to |
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| 6 | 6 | | demonstrate knowledge of motorists' rights and responsibilities in |
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| 7 | 7 | | relation to bicyclists. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Subsections (b) and (c), Section 521.161, |
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| 10 | 10 | | Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | (b) The examination must include: |
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| 12 | 12 | | (1) a test of the applicant's: |
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| 13 | 13 | | (A) vision; |
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| 14 | 14 | | (B) ability to identify and understand highway |
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| 15 | 15 | | signs in English that regulate, warn, or direct traffic; [and] |
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| 16 | 16 | | (C) knowledge of the traffic laws of this state; |
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| 17 | 17 | | and |
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| 18 | 18 | | (D) knowledge of motorists' rights and |
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| 19 | 19 | | responsibilities in relation to bicyclists; |
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| 20 | 20 | | (2) a demonstration of the applicant's ability to |
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| 21 | 21 | | exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a |
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| 22 | 22 | | motor vehicle of the type that the applicant will be licensed to |
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| 23 | 23 | | operate; and |
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| 24 | 24 | | (3) any additional examination the department finds |
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| 25 | 25 | | necessary to determine the applicant's fitness to operate a motor |
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| 26 | 26 | | vehicle safely. |
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| 27 | 27 | | (c) The department shall give each applicant the option of |
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| 28 | 28 | | taking the parts [traffic law and highway sign part] of the |
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| 29 | 29 | | examination under Subsections (b)(1)(B), (C), and (D) in writing in |
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| 30 | 30 | | addition to or instead of through a mechanical, electronic, or |
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| 31 | 31 | | other testing method. If the applicant takes that part of the |
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| 32 | 32 | | examination in writing in addition to another testing method, the |
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| 33 | 33 | | applicant is considered to have passed that part of the examination |
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| 34 | 34 | | if the applicant passes either version of the examination. The |
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| 35 | 35 | | department shall inform each person taking the examination of the |
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| 36 | 36 | | person's rights under this subsection. |
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| 37 | 37 | | SECTION 2. A driver's license examination administered by |
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| 38 | 38 | | the Department of Public Safety is not required to include a |
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| 39 | 39 | | question required by Paragraph (D), Subdivision (1), Subsection |
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| 40 | 40 | | (b), Section 521.161, Transportation Code, as added by this Act, if |
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| 41 | 41 | | the examination is administered before February 1, 2010. |
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| 42 | 42 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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| 43 | 43 | | ______________________________ ______________________________ |
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| 44 | 44 | | President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
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| 45 | 45 | | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2041 passed the Senate on |
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| 46 | 46 | | April 23, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1. |
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| 47 | 47 | | ______________________________ |
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| 48 | 48 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 49 | 49 | | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2041 passed the House on |
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| 50 | 50 | | May 26, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, one present |
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| 51 | 51 | | not voting. |
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| 52 | 52 | | ______________________________ |
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| 53 | 53 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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| 54 | 54 | | Approved: |
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| 55 | 55 | | ______________________________ |
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| 56 | 56 | | Date |
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| 57 | 57 | | ______________________________ |
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| 58 | 58 | | Governor |
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