83R21612 SLB-F
By: Parker H.B. No. 2320
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2320:
By: Pickett C.S.H.B. No. 2320
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing a pilot program for driver education
schools to administer certain driver's license examinations;
authorizing fees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 521.1656 to read as follows:
Sec. 521.1656. PILOT PROGRAM FOR ADDITIONAL TESTING BY
DRIVER EDUCATION SCHOOL. (a) The department shall establish a
pilot program under which the department may designate driver
education schools licensed under Chapter 1001, Education Code, to
administer the examination required under Section 521.161(b)(2) in
addition to the department's administration of that examination.
(b) The department shall:
(1) establish criteria for determining the
eligibility of a driver education school to apply for participation
in the pilot program and continue to operate under the pilot
program;
(2) monitor participating driver education schools to
ensure that the driver education schools are conducting thorough
examinations; and
(3) conduct annual reports outlining:
(A) the number of individuals who opt to have the
examination required under Section 521.161(b)(2) administered by a
participating driver education school;
(B) the number of traffic incidents and citations
involving drivers who were administered the examination required
under Section 521.161(b)(2) by a driver education school under the
pilot program and whether that number is proportional to the
overall incident and citation rate in this state; and
(C) the department's assessment of the ability of
driver education schools to effectively administer the examination
required under Section 521.161(b)(2).
(c) The department may charge a driver education school a
fee for applying to enter the pilot program and for participating in
the program. The department shall set the fees in amounts
sufficient to cover the costs of administering this section.
(d) The department shall adopt rules to implement this
section.
(e) The pilot program established under this section
expires September 1, 2017. After September 1, 2017, on the
recommendation of the department, the commission may authorize the
department to implement the pilot program as a permanent program.
SECTION 2. The Department of Public Safety shall adopt the
rules required by Section 521.1656, Transportation Code, as added
by this Act, not later than January 1, 2014.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.