Texas 2013 83rd Regular

Texas House Bill HB3206 Comm Sub / Bill

                    83R22073 AJZ-F
 By: Alonzo, et al. H.B. No. 3206
 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3206:
 By:  Menendez C.S.H.B. No. 3206


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the creation of a Texas resident driver's permit,
 provisional Texas resident driver's permit, and Texas resident
 driver's instruction permit; authorizing fees; creating an
 offense.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Chapter 521, Transportation Code, is amended by
 adding Subchapter K-1 to read as follows:
 SUBCHAPTER K-1. TEXAS RESIDENT DRIVER'S PERMIT
 Sec. 521.231.  ELIGIBILITY.  The department may issue a
 Texas resident driver's permit to a person who:
 (1)  as of the date the permit is issued, has resided in
 this state for at least one year;
 (2)  is ineligible to obtain a social security number;
 (3)  is unable to present to the department
 documentation issued by the United States agency responsible for
 citizenship and immigration authorizing the person to be in the
 United States; and
 (4)  has not been finally convicted of a Class B
 misdemeanor, a Class A misdemeanor, or any felony offense.
 Sec. 521.232.  TEXAS RESIDENT DRIVER'S PERMIT REQUIREMENTS.
 (a)  A Texas resident driver's permit issued under this subchapter
 is not valid as proof of the permit holder's identity for any
 federal purposes.
 (b)  The department shall:
 (1)  designate and clearly mark as a Texas resident
 driver's permit each permit issued under this subchapter;
 (2)  designate and clearly mark as a provisional Texas
 resident driver's permit each permit issued under this subchapter
 to a person who is at least 16 years of age but younger than 18 years
 of age; and
 (3)  include on a permit issued under this subchapter
 an indication that the permit is not valid proof of identity for any
 federal purposes.
 (c)  Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, a person
 who holds a Texas resident driver's permit is subject to the laws of
 this state applicable to the holder of an original or duplicate
 driver's license.
 (d)  Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, an
 applicant for a Texas resident driver's permit who is at least 16
 years of age but younger than 18 years of age is subject to the laws
 of this state applicable to a holder of a provisional license.
 (e)  The department shall adopt rules:
 (1)  regarding the design and content of the Texas
 resident driver's permit;
 (2)  establishing criteria for proof of identification
 and residency of an applicant;
 (3)  designating acceptable evidence that an applicant
 is not eligible for a social security number; and
 (4)  regarding the issuance of Texas resident driver's
 instruction permits.
 Sec. 521.233.  APPLICATION.  (a)  An application for a Texas
 resident driver's permit must state the applicant's full name and
 place and date of birth.  This information must be verified by
 presentation of a current passport or consular document issued to
 the applicant by the country of which the applicant is a citizen.
 (b)  The application must include:
 (1)  a complete electronic set of the applicant's
 fingerprints;
 (2)  a photograph of the applicant;
 (3)  the signature of the applicant;
 (4)  a brief description of the applicant; and
 (5)  any information necessary for performing a
 criminal history background check on the applicant.
 (c)  The application must state:
 (1)  the sex of the applicant;
 (2)  the residence address of the applicant;
 (3)  whether the applicant has been licensed to drive a
 motor vehicle before;
 (4)  if previously licensed:
 (A)  when and by what state or country;
 (B)  whether that license has been suspended or
 revoked or a license application denied; and
 (C)  the date and reason for the suspension,
 revocation, or denial; and
 (5)  the county of residence of the applicant.
 (d)  If the applicant is younger than 21 years of age, the
 application must state whether the applicant has completed a driver
 education course required by Section 521.1601.
 (e)  The application must include any other information the
 department requires to determine the applicant's identity,
 residency, competency, and eligibility as required by the
 department or state law.
 (f)  Information supplied to the department relating to an
 applicant's medical history is for the confidential use of the
 department and may not be disclosed to any person or used as
 evidence in a legal proceeding other than a proceeding under
 Subchapter N. This subsection does not apply to information
 provided by an applicant under Subsection (g).
 (g)  The application must provide space for the applicant to
 voluntarily list any health condition that may impede communication
 with a peace officer as evidenced by a written statement from a
 licensed physician.
 Sec. 521.234.  FEES.  (a)  The fee for applying for an
 original Texas resident driver's permit is $150.
 (b)  The fee for issuance or renewal of a Texas resident
 driver's permit is $24.
 (c)  The fee for issuance of a provisional Texas resident
 driver's permit or Texas resident driver's instruction permit is
 $15.
 Sec. 521.235.  EXPIRATION.  (a)  Each Texas resident
 driver's permit issued under this subchapter expires two years
 after the date of issuance.
 (b)  Each provisional Texas resident driver's permit and
 Texas resident driver's instruction permit issued under this
 subchapter expires on the 18th birthday of the permit holder.
 Sec. 521.236.  FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REQUIREMENT.  (a)  A
 Texas resident driver's permit is invalid if, on request of a peace
 officer, the permit holder is unable to provide evidence of
 financial responsibility for a motor vehicle the permit holder is
 operating.
 (b)  A holder of a Texas resident driver's permit who cannot
 produce proof of financial responsibility commits an offense
 punishable under Section 521.457.
 SECTION 2.  Section 521.457(a), Transportation Code, is
 amended to read as follows:
 (a)  A person commits an offense if the person operates a
 motor vehicle on a highway:
 (1)  after the person's driver's license has been
 canceled under this chapter if the person does not have a license
 that was subsequently issued under this chapter;
 (2)  during a period that the person's driver's license
 or privilege is suspended or revoked under any law of this state;
 (3)  while the person's driver's license is expired if
 the license expired during a period of suspension; [or]
 (4)  after renewal of the person's driver's license has
 been denied under any law of this state, if the person does not have
 a driver's license subsequently issued under this chapter; or
 (5)  if the person holds a Texas resident driver's
 permit issued under Subchapter K-1 and is unable to provide
 evidence of financial responsibility for a vehicle the permit
 holder is operating, as required under Section 521.236.
 SECTION 3.  Not later than January 1, 2014, the Department of
 Public Safety of the State of Texas shall:
 (1)  adopt the rules necessary to implement Subchapter
 K-1, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, as added by this Act; and
 (2)  create the application form required by Section
 521.233, Transportation Code, as added by this Act.
 SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.