BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1481 82R7848 JRJ-D By: Seliger Transportation & Homeland Security 3/30/2011 As Filed
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1481
82R7848 JRJ-D By: Seliger
Transportation & Homeland Security
3/30/2011
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 1481
82R7848 JRJ-D
By: Seliger
Transportation & Homeland Security
3/30/2011
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Currently, driver's safety online programs and driver's education online programs are regulated differently. The University of Texas Online High School (UT-OHS), a special purpose school, services students worldwide, and would like to offer a driver's education course to independent learners, such as home school students and private school students. Current law prohibits the school from doing so without becoming a "driver education school," which is not the mission of UT-OHS, and is an arduous process. The Virtual Drive course is established and offered through the Virtual School Network, and UT-OHS would like to offer the course. This bill would change the driver's education statute to mirror the driver's safety statute. A driver's education course could then be offered by a course provider, and the course provider level would be structured according to certain provisions. As proposed, S.B. 1481 amends current law relating to allowing driver education courses to be delivered by course providers. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 1001.001(4), Education Code, to redefine "course provider." SECTION 2. Amends Section 1001.206, Education Code, as follows Sec. 1001.206. REQUIREMENTS FOR COURSE PROVIDER LICENSE. Requires the commissioner of education to approve an application for a course provider license if on investigation the Texas Education Agency (TEA) determines that: (1) the course provider has an approved course that at least one licensed driver training school, rather than driving safety school, is willing to offer; (2) Makes no changes to this subdivision; (3)-(4) Makes conforming changes; (5) not later than the 15th working day after the date the person successfully completes a driving safety course, rather than the course, the course provider will mail a uniform certificate of course completion to the person indicating the course name and successful completion; and (6)-(14) Makes no changes to these subdivisions. SECTION 3. Amends Section 1001.351, Education Code, by adding Subsection (d), to require that a course provider meet all requirements of this chapter in providing a driver education course. SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2011.
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, driver's safety online programs and driver's education online programs are regulated differently. The University of Texas Online High School (UT-OHS), a special purpose school, services students worldwide, and would like to offer a driver's education course to independent learners, such as home school students and private school students. Current law prohibits the school from doing so without becoming a "driver education school," which is not the mission of UT-OHS, and is an arduous process. The Virtual Drive course is established and offered through the Virtual School Network, and UT-OHS would like to offer the course. This bill would change the driver's education statute to mirror the driver's safety statute. A driver's education course could then be offered by a course provider, and the course provider level would be structured according to certain provisions.
As proposed, S.B. 1481 amends current law relating to allowing driver education courses to be delivered by course providers.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 1001.001(4), Education Code, to redefine "course provider."
SECTION 2. Amends Section 1001.206, Education Code, as follows
Sec. 1001.206. REQUIREMENTS FOR COURSE PROVIDER LICENSE. Requires the commissioner of education to approve an application for a course provider license if on investigation the Texas Education Agency (TEA) determines that:
(1) the course provider has an approved course that at least one licensed driver training school, rather than driving safety school, is willing to offer;
(2) Makes no changes to this subdivision;
(3)-(4) Makes conforming changes;
(5) not later than the 15th working day after the date the person successfully completes a driving safety course, rather than the course, the course provider will mail a uniform certificate of course completion to the person indicating the course name and successful completion; and
(6)-(14) Makes no changes to these subdivisions.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 1001.351, Education Code, by adding Subsection (d), to require that a course provider meet all requirements of this chapter in providing a driver education course.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2011.