Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas House Bill HB646 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	86R865 BEE-D
2	2	By: Raney H.B. No. 646
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the operation and inspection of mopeds; increasing a
8	8	fee.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Sections 521.085(a) and (b), Transportation
11	11	Code, are amended to read as follows:
12	12	(a) Except [Unless prohibited by Chapter 522, and except] as
13	13	provided by Subsection (b), Section 521.225, and Chapter 522, the
14	14	license holder may operate any vehicle of the type for which that
15	15	class of license is issued and any lesser type of vehicle other than
16	16	a motorcycle [or moped].
17	17	(b) Subsection (a) does not prohibit a license holder from
18	18	operating a lesser type of vehicle that is:
19	19	(1) a motorcycle described by Section 521.001(a)(6-a)
20	20	or an autocycle as defined by Section 501.008; [or]
21	21	(2) a type of motorcycle defined by the department
22	22	under Section 521.001(c) and designated by the department as
23	23	qualifying for operation under this section; or
24	24	(3) a moped.
25	25	SECTION 2. Section 521.122(b), Transportation Code, is
26	26	amended to read as follows:
27	27	(b) The department may include on the driver's license:
28	28	(1) an authorization to operate a motorcycle [or
29	29	moped] if the license holder has met all requirements for a Class M
30	30	license; or
31	31	(2) an authorization for a person younger than 18
32	32	years of age to operate a moped as provided by Section 521.225.
33	33	SECTION 3. The heading to Section 521.225, Transportation
34	34	Code, is amended to read as follows:
35	35	Sec. 521.225. MOPED AUTHORIZATION FOR PERSON YOUNGER THAN
36	36	18 YEARS OF AGE [LICENSE].
37	37	SECTION 4. Sections 521.225(a) and (b), Transportation
38	38	Code, are amended to read as follows:
39	39	(a) A person 15 years of age or older but under 18 years of
40	40	age may [not] operate a moped only if [unless] the person holds:
41	41	(1) a Class M license; or
42	42	(2) another class of [a] driver's license with an
43	43	authorization to operate a moped. [An applicant for a moped license
44	44	must be 15 years of age or older.]
45	45	(b) The department may issue an authorization to operate a
46	46	moped to a person who:
47	47	(1) is 15 years of age or older but under 18 years of
48	48	age; and
49	49	(2) passes [The department shall administer to an
50	50	applicant for a moped license] a written examination relating
51	51	specifically to the traffic laws applicable to the operation of
52	52	mopeds. [A test involving the operation of the vehicle is not
53	53	required.]
54	54	SECTION 5. Section 522.029(f), Transportation Code, is
55	55	amended to read as follows:
56	56	(f) If a commercial driver's license includes an
57	57	authorization to operate a motorcycle [or moped], the fee for the
58	58	driver's license is increased by $8.
59	59	SECTION 6. Section 522.041(e), Transportation Code, is
60	60	amended to read as follows:
61	61	(e) The holder of a commercial driver's license or
62	62	commercial learner's permit may drive any vehicle in the class for
63	63	which the license or permit is issued and lesser classes of vehicles
64	64	except a motorcycle [or moped]. The holder may drive a motorcycle
65	65	only if authorization to drive a motorcycle is shown on the
66	66	commercial driver's license and the requirements for issuance of a
67	67	motorcycle license have been met. This subsection does not
68	68	prohibit a person from operating a lesser type of vehicle that is a
69	69	moped.
70	70	SECTION 7. Section 548.051(b), Transportation Code, is
71	71	amended to read as follows:
72	72	(b) A moped is subject to inspection in the same manner as a
73	73	motorcycle[, except that the only items of equipment required to be
74	74	inspected are the brakes, headlamps, rear lamps, and reflectors,
75	75	which must comply with the standards prescribed by Sections 547.408
76	76	and 547.801].
77	77	SECTION 8. Section 548.501(a), Transportation Code, is
78	78	amended to read as follows:
79	79	(a) Except as provided by Sections 548.503 and 548.504, the
80	80	fee for inspection of a motor vehicle [other than a moped] is
81	81	$12.50. [The fee for inspection of a moped is $5.75.]
82	82	SECTION 9. Section 521.225(c), Transportation Code, is
83	83	repealed.
84	84	SECTION 10. Not later than January 1, 2020, the Department
85	85	of Public Safety of the State of Texas shall:
86	86	(1) develop the written examination required by
87	87	Section 521.225(b), Transportation Code, as amended by this Act;
88	88	and
89	89	(2) adopt the rules necessary to implement Section
90	90	521.225, Transportation Code, as amended by this Act.
91	91	SECTION 11. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.