Bill Text: TX HB1609 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the repeal of the driver responsibility program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-03 - Referred to Homeland Security & Public Safety [HB1609 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HB1609-Introduced.html
  82R113 ACP-D
 
  By: Gonzales of Williamson H.B. No. 1609
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the repeal of the driver responsibility program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Article 102.022, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (j) to
  read as follows:
         (a)  In this article, "moving violation" means an offense
  that:
               (1)  involves the operation of a motor vehicle; and
               (2)  is classified as a moving violation by the
  Department of Public Safety under this section [Section 708.052,
  Transportation Code].
         (j)  The Department of Public Safety by rule shall designate
  the offenses that constitute a moving violation of the traffic law
  under this section.
         SECTION 2.  Section 780.002, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 780.002.  DEPOSITS TO ACCOUNT.  The comptroller shall
  deposit any gifts, grants, donations, and legislative
  appropriations made for that purpose to the credit of the
  designated trauma facility and emergency medical services account
  established under Section 780.003. [(a)   On the first Monday of
  each month, the Department of Public Safety shall remit the
  surcharges collected during the previous month under the driver
  responsibility program operated by that department under Chapter
  708, Transportation Code, to the comptroller.
         [(b)     The comptroller shall deposit 49.5 percent of the money
  received under Subsection (a) to the credit of the account
  established under this chapter and 49.5 percent of the money to the
  general revenue fund. The remaining one percent of the amount of
  the surcharges shall be deposited to the general revenue fund and
  may be appropriated only to the Department of Public Safety for
  administration of the driver responsibility program operated by
  that department under Chapter 708, Transportation Code.
         [(c)     Notwithstanding Subsection (b), in any state fiscal
  year the comptroller shall deposit 49.5 percent of the surcharges
  collected under Chapter 708, Transportation Code, to the credit of
  the general revenue fund only until the total amount of the
  surcharges deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund
  under Subsection (b), and the state traffic fines deposited to the
  credit of that fund under Section 542.4031(g)(1), Transportation
  Code, equals $250 million for that year. If in any state fiscal
  year the amount received by the comptroller under those laws for
  deposit to the credit of the general revenue fund exceeds $250
  million, the comptroller shall deposit the additional amount to the
  credit of the Texas mobility fund.]
         SECTION 3.  Section 521.205(a), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The department by rule shall provide for approval of a
  driver education course conducted by the parent, stepparent, foster
  parent, legal guardian, step-grandparent, or grandparent of a
  person who is required to complete a driver education course to
  obtain a Class C license.  The rules must provide that:
               (1)  the person conducting the course possess a valid
  license for the preceding three years that has not been suspended,
  revoked, or forfeited in the past three years for an offense that
  involves the operation of a motor vehicle;
               (2)  the student driver spend a minimum number of hours
  in:
                     (A)  classroom instruction; and
                     (B)  behind-the-wheel instruction;
               (3)  the person conducting the course not be convicted
  of:
                     (A)  criminally negligent homicide; or
                     (B)  driving while intoxicated; and
               (4)  the person conducting the course not be disabled
  because of mental illness[; and
               [(5)     the person conducting the course not have six or
  more points assigned to the person's driver's license under
  Subchapter B, Chapter 708, at the time the person begins conducting
  the course].
         SECTION 4.  Section 542.4031(h), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (h)  Notwithstanding Subsection (g)(1), in any state fiscal
  year the comptroller shall deposit 67 percent of the money received
  under Subsection (e)(2) to the credit of the general revenue fund
  only until the total amount of the money deposited to the credit of
  the general revenue fund under Subsection (g)(1) [and Section
  780.002(b), Health and Safety Code,] equals $250 million for that
  year. If in any state fiscal year the amount received by the
  comptroller under Subsection (g)(1) [those laws] for deposit to the
  credit of the general revenue fund exceeds $250 million, the
  comptroller shall deposit the additional amount to the credit of
  the Texas mobility fund.
         SECTION 5.  Section 601.233(a), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A citation for an offense under Section 601.191 issued
  as a result of Section 601.053 must include, in type larger than
  other type on the citation, [except for the type of the statement
  required by Section 708.105,] the following statement:
  "A second or subsequent conviction of an offense under the Texas
  Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act will result in the
  suspension of your driver's license and motor vehicle registration
  unless you file and maintain evidence of financial responsibility
  with the Department of Public Safety for two years from the date of
  conviction.  The department may waive the requirement to file
  evidence of financial responsibility if you file satisfactory
  evidence with the department showing that at the time this citation
  was issued, the vehicle was covered by a motor vehicle liability
  insurance policy or that you were otherwise exempt from the
  requirements to provide evidence of financial responsibility."
         SECTION 6.  The following laws are repealed:
               (1)  Section 1001.257, Education Code;
               (2)  Section 411.110(f), Government Code;
               (3)  Section 773.0614(b), Health and Safety Code; and
               (4)  Chapter 708, Transportation Code.
         SECTION 7.  Notwithstanding the repeal by this Act of
  Chapter 708, Transportation Code, a surcharge imposed under former
  Chapter 708 of that code before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the applicable law in effect before the effective date
  of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
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