88R2691 JRR-D
By: Raymond, Harless H.B. No. 573
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to waiving certain driver's license fees for applicants
who are first responders.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 521.1813 to read as follows:
Sec. 521.1813. WAIVER OF CERTAIN FEES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.
(a) In this section, "first responder" means:
(1) a peace officer whose duties include responding
rapidly to an emergency;
(2) fire protection personnel, as defined by Section
419.021, Government Code;
(3) a volunteer firefighter who performs firefighting
duties on behalf of a political subdivision and who is not serving
as a member of the legislature or holding a statewide elected
office;
(4) an ambulance driver; or
(5) an individual certified as emergency medical
services personnel by the Department of State Health Services.
(b) A person is exempt from the payment of any fee for the
issuance of an original or renewal driver's license, as provided
under this chapter, if at the time of the application for an
original or renewal driver's license the person submits to the
department satisfactory evidence that the person is a first
responder.
(c) The department shall establish a record of the amount of
the fees waived under this section that would otherwise be
deposited to the credit of the Texas mobility fund.
(d) On or before the fifth workday of each month, the
department, using available funds, shall remit to the comptroller
for deposit to the credit of the Texas mobility fund general revenue
in an amount equal to the amount of the fees described by Subsection
(c) in the preceding month.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an application for an original or renewal driver's license
submitted on or after the effective date of this Act. An
application submitted before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect when the application was submitted,
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.