| 1 | 1 | | 88R2080 CXP-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Gutierrez S.B. No. 2389 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | relating to the requirements for issuance of a driver's license or |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | learner license to a person younger than 18 years of age. |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 521.204(a), Transportation Code, is |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | amended to read as follows: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | (a) The department may issue a Class C driver's license to |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | an applicant under 18 years of age only if the applicant: |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | (1) is 16 years of age or older; |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | (2) has submitted to the department a driver education |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | certificate issued under Section 1001.055, Education Code, that |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | states that the person has completed and passed a driver education |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | course approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | Regulation; and |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | (3) [has obtained a high school diploma or its |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | equivalent or is a student: |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | [(A) enrolled in a public school, home school, or |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | private school who attended school for at least 80 days in the fall |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | or spring semester preceding the date of the driver's license |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | application; or |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | [(B) who has been enrolled for at least 45 days, |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | and is enrolled as of the date of the application, in a program to |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | prepare persons to pass the high school equivalency exam; |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | [(4) has submitted to the department written parental |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | or guardian permission: |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | [(A) for the department to access the applicant's |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | school enrollment records maintained by the Texas Education Agency; |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | and |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | [(B) for a school administrator or law |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | enforcement officer to notify the department in the event that the |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | person has been absent from school for at least 20 consecutive |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | instructional days; and |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | [(5)] has passed the examination required by Section |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | 521.161. |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | SECTION 2. Section 521.222(a), Transportation Code, is |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | amended to read as follows: |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | (a) The department may issue a learner license, including a |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | Class A or Class B driver's learner license, to a person who: |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | (1) is 15 years of age or older but under 18 years of |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | age; |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | (2) has satisfactorily completed and passed the |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | classroom phase of an approved driver education course, which may |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | be a course taught under Section 1001.112, Education Code; and |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | (3) [meets the requirements imposed under Section |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | 521.204(a)(3); and |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | [(4)] has passed each examination required under |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | Section 521.161 other than the driving test. |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | SECTION 3. Section 521.003, Transportation Code, is |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | repealed. |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
|---|