Bill Text: TX SB270 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the renewal, expiration, and suspension of driver's licenses; increasing a fee.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-15 - Referred to Transportation [SB270 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB270-Introduced.html
  88R3886 JRR-F
 
  By: Johnson S.B. No. 270
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the renewal, expiration, and suspension of driver's
  licenses; increasing a fee.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter M, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 521.2719 to read as follows:
         Sec. 521.2719.  EXPIRED LICENSES. (a)  A person may renew an
  expired driver's license if the person's license has not been
  expired for more than 10 years.
         (b)  A person whose driver's license has been expired for
  more than 10 years may obtain a new driver's license by complying
  with the requirements and procedures for obtaining an original
  driver's license.
         SECTION 2.  Section 521.421, Transportation Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (l) to read as follows:
         (l)  If a person is applying for the renewal of a driver's
  license that has been expired for more than 90 days, the fee for the
  renewal driver's license is increased by $20.
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 706, Transportation Code, is amended by
  adding Section 706.0045 to read as follows:
         Sec. 706.0045.  PERIOD OF DENIAL OF RENEWAL OF DRIVER'S
  LICENSE. (a) Notwithstanding Section 706.004(a) or 706.006(c),
  the department may deny renewal of a person's driver's license under
  this chapter only until the earlier of:
               (1)  the date the department receives a clearance
  notice under Section 706.005; or
               (2)  the 10th anniversary of the date the department or
  a vendor described by Subsection (b) first received notice under
  this chapter that there was cause to deny renewal of the person's
  driver's license.
         (b)  This subsection applies only if the department
  contracts with a vendor under Section 706.008 to implement this
  chapter. Each month, the vendor shall:
               (1)  identify each person whose license may no longer
  be denied renewal because of the expiration of the time period
  described by Subsection (a)(2); and
               (2)  provide the name of each person identified under
  Subdivision (1) to:
                     (A)  the department; and
                     (B)  the applicable court in which the person
  failed to appear based on a complaint or citation or failed to pay
  or satisfy a judgment ordering the payment of a fine and cost in the
  manner ordered by the court in a matter involving an offense
  described by Section 706.002(a).
         SECTION 4.  Section 706.005, Transportation Code, is amended
  by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  A political subdivision shall immediately notify the
  department that there is no cause to continue to deny renewal of a
  person's driver's license based on the person's previous failure to
  appear or failure to pay or satisfy a judgment ordering the payment
  of a fine and cost in the manner ordered by the court in a matter
  involving an offense described by Section 706.002(a), on payment of
  a reimbursement fee, or on a finding by the court that the person is
  indigent and not required to pay a reimbursement fee, as provided by
  Section 706.006 and:
               (1)  the perfection of an appeal of the case for which
  the warrant of arrest was issued or judgment arose;
               (2)  the dismissal of the charge for which the warrant
  of arrest was issued or judgment arose, other than a dismissal with
  prejudice by motion of the appropriate prosecuting attorney for
  lack of evidence;
               (3)  the posting of bond or the giving of other security
  to reinstate the charge for which the warrant was issued;
               (4)  the payment or discharge of the fine and cost owed
  on an outstanding judgment of the court; [or]
               (5)  if the person's license is denied renewal solely
  because of the person's previous failure to appear, the person's
  appearance in court in any manner authorized by law for the
  underlying offense for which the person previously failed to
  appear; or
               (6)  any other [suitable] arrangement to satisfy [pay]
  the fine and cost within the court's discretion, including any
  instance in which the person enters into an arrangement with the
  court to satisfy the fine and cost under a payment plan or by
  performing community service.
         (c)  A political subdivision that notifies the department
  that there is no cause to continue to deny renewal of a person's
  driver's license under Subsection (a) may notify the department if
  the court subsequently determines the person failed to complete an
  arrangement to satisfy the fine and cost under Subsection (a)(6),
  including failure to complete payment plan installments or failure
  to complete community service. On receiving the necessary
  information from the political subdivision under this subsection,
  the department may deny renewal of the person's driver's license.
         SECTION 5.  (a)  Sections 521.2719 and 521.421(l),
  Transportation Code, as added by this Act, apply only to an
  application for a renewal driver's license that is submitted on or
  after the effective date of this Act. An application that is
  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.
         (b)  Section 706.0045, Transportation Code, as added by this
  Act, applies to a determination to deny renewal of 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 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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