Texas Senate Bill SB217

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Relating to the supervision by a personal bond office of individuals granted an occupational driver's license; providing for an administrative fee.

Impact

With the introduction of administrative fees for supervision, the bill stipulates that personal bond offices can charge between $25 and $60 per month to individuals under their supervision. This provision may raise concerns regarding affordability for those individuals who are already facing the burdens of license restrictions due to past offenses. Furthermore, the bill aims to improve compliance monitoring, which could positively affect road safety by ensuring that individuals with occupational licenses adhere to the terms set by the court.

Summary

SB217 introduces amendments to the Texas Transportation Code, particularly regarding the supervision of individuals granted occupational driver's licenses. The bill allows courts to designate supervision responsibilities either to local community supervision and corrections departments or to personal bond offices. This change is intended to provide flexibility in managing the compliance of individuals with the conditions set by the court when they are issued an occupational license. Efforts to streamline the supervision process are a central theme of this legislation.

Contention

While the bill seeks to enhance the management of occupational licenses, there are points of contention that emerge from its provisions. Critics may argue that imposing additional fees can be onerous for low-income individuals trying to reintegrate into society. The requirement for individuals to maintain supervision might also attract critique regarding overreach, potentially infringing upon personal liberties. Additionally, the differentiation in how supervision is handled between local community departments and personal bond offices can lead to inconsistencies in the enforcement of traffic-related compliance across jurisdictions.