Bill Text: TX HB2147 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Relating to the punishment for the offense of driving while license invalid, the period of certain driver's license suspensions, and the requirement that a peace officer take possession of a person's driver's license following the person's failure to pass or refusal to consent to a test for intoxication.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-05-17 - Received from the House [HB2147 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB2147-Engrossed.html

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By: Allen H.B. No. 2147

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the punishment for the offense of driving while license
invalid, the period of certain driver's license suspensions, and
the requirement that a peace officer take possession of a person's
driver's license following the person's failure to pass or refusal
to consent to a test for intoxication.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 521.457(e), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(e) Except as provided by Subsections [(f),] (f-1)[,] and
(f-2), an offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
SECTION 2. Sections 524.011(b), (c), and (e),
Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
(b) A peace officer shall:
(1) serve or, if a specimen is taken and the analysis
of the specimen is not returned to the arresting officer before the
person is admitted to bail, released from custody, delivered as
provided by Title 3, Family Code, or committed to jail, attempt to
serve notice of driver's license suspension by delivering the
notice to the arrested person; and
(2) [take possession of any driver's license issued by
this state and held by the person arrested;
[(3) issue a temporary driving permit to the person
unless department records show or the officer otherwise determines
that the person does not hold a driver's license to operate a motor
vehicle in this state; and
[(4)] send to the department not later than the fifth
business day after the date of the arrest:
(A) a copy of the driver's license suspension
notice; and
(B) [any driver's license taken by the officer
under this subsection;
[(C) a copy of any temporary driving permit
issued under this subsection; and
[(D)] a sworn report of information relevant to
the arrest.
(c) The report required under Subsection (b)(2)(B)
[(b)(4)(D)] must:
(1) identify the arrested person;
(2) state the arresting officer's grounds for
believing the person committed the offense;
(3) give the analysis of the specimen if any; and
(4) include a copy of the criminal complaint filed in
the case, if any.
(e) The department shall develop forms for the notice of
driver's license suspension [and temporary driving permits] to be
used by all state and local law enforcement agencies.
SECTION 3. Section 524.032(d), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(d) A request for a hearing stays suspension of a person's
driver's license until the date of the final decision of the
administrative law judge. [If the person's driver's license was
taken by a peace officer under Section 524.011(b), the department
shall notify the person of the effect of the request on the
suspension of the person's license before the expiration of any
temporary driving permit issued to the person, if the person is
otherwise eligible, in a manner that will permit the person to
establish to a peace officer that the person's driver's license is
not suspended.]
SECTION 4. Section 524.035(c), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(c) If the administrative law judge does not find in the
affirmative on each issue in Subsection (a), the department shall:
(1) [return the person's driver's license to the
person, if the license was taken by a peace officer under Section
524.011(b);
[(2)] reinstate the person's driver's license; and
(2) [(3)] rescind an order prohibiting the issuance of
a driver's license to the person.
SECTION 5. Sections 724.032(a), (c), and (d),
Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) If a person refuses to submit to the taking of a
specimen, whether expressly or because of an intentional failure of
the person to give the specimen, the peace officer shall:
(1) serve notice of license suspension or denial on
the person; and
(2) [take possession of any license issued by this
state and held by the person arrested;
[(3) issue a temporary driving permit to the person
unless department records show or the officer otherwise determines
that the person does not hold a license to operate a motor vehicle
in this state; and
[(4)] make a written report of the refusal to the
director of the department.
(c) The officer shall forward to the department not later
than the fifth business day after the date of the arrest:
(1) a copy of the notice of suspension or denial; and
(2) [any license taken by the officer under Subsection
(a);
[(3) a copy of any temporary driving permit issued
under Subsection (a); and
[(4)] a copy of the refusal report.
(d) The department shall develop forms for notices of
suspension or denial [and temporary driving permits] to be used by
all state and local law enforcement agencies.
SECTION 6. Section 724.041(c), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(c) A request for a hearing stays the suspension or denial
until the date of the final decision of the administrative law
judge. [If the person's license was taken by a peace officer under
Section 724.032(a), the department shall notify the person of the
effect of the request on the suspension of the person's license
before the expiration of any temporary driving permit issued to the
person, if the person is otherwise eligible, in a manner that will
permit the person to establish to a peace officer that the person's
license is not suspended.]
SECTION 7. Section 724.043(b), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) If the administrative law judge does not find in the
affirmative on each issue under Section 724.042, the department
shall [return the person's license to the person, if the license was
taken by a peace officer under Section 724.032(a), and] reinstate
the person's license or rescind any order denying the issuance of a
license because of the person's refusal to submit to the taking of a
specimen under Section 724.032(a).
SECTION 8. Section 2.005(b), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) The proof must be established by:
(1) a driver's license or identification card issued
by this state, another state, or a Canadian province that is current
or has expired not more than two years preceding the date the
identification is submitted to the county clerk in connection with
an application for a license;
(2) a United States passport;
(3) a current passport issued by a foreign country or a
consular document issued by a state or national government;
(4) an unexpired Certificate of United States
Citizenship, Certificate of Naturalization, United States Citizen
Identification Card, Permanent Resident Card, Temporary Resident
Card, Employment Authorization Card, or other document issued by
the federal Department of Homeland Security or the United States
Department of State including an identification photograph;
(5) an unexpired military identification card for
active duty, reserve, or retired personnel with an identification
photograph;
(6) an original or certified copy of a birth
certificate issued by a bureau of vital statistics for a state or a
foreign government;
(7) an original or certified copy of a Consular Report
of Birth Abroad or Certificate of Birth Abroad issued by the United
States Department of State;
(8) an original or certified copy of a court order
relating to the applicant's name change or sex change;
(9) school records from a secondary school or
institution of higher education;
(10) an insurance policy continuously valid for the
two years preceding the date of the application for a license;
(11) a motor vehicle certificate of title;
(12) military records, including documentation of
release or discharge from active duty or a draft record;
(13) an unexpired military dependent identification
card;
(14) an original or certified copy of the applicant's
marriage license or divorce decree;
(15) a voter registration certificate;
(16) a pilot's license issued by the Federal Aviation
Administration or another authorized agency of the United States;
(17) a license to carry a handgun under Subchapter H,
Chapter 411, Government Code;
(18) [a temporary driving permit or] a temporary
identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety; or
(19) an offender identification card issued by the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
SECTION 9. Section 521.457(f), Transportation Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 10. Sections 524.011(f), 524.037(c), and
724.032(e), Transportation Code, are repealed.
SECTION 11. (a) Section 3, Chapter 710 (H.B. 162), Acts of
the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, is repealed.
(b) Section 521.293, Transportation Code, as amended by
Chapter 710 (H.B. 162), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2019, applies to a determination to suspend a driver's
license that is made by the Department of Public Safety of the State
of Texas before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 12. The change in law made by this Act to Section
521.457, Transportation Code, applies only to an offense committed
on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed
before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is
continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section,
an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if
any element of the offense occurred before that date.
SECTION 13. The change in law made by this Act to Chapters
524 and 724, Transportation Code, applies only to a failure to pass
a test for intoxication or a refusal to submit to the taking of a
specimen to test for intoxication that occurs on or after the
effective date of this Act. A failure to pass a test for
intoxication or refusal to submit to the taking of a specimen that
occurred before the effective date of this Act is governed by the
law in effect when the test was taken or the refusal was made, and
the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 14. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.