HBA-MPM, NLM H.B. 1224 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1224
By: Jones, Jesse
Public Education
7/20/1999
Enrolled


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 76th Legislature, driver education and driving safety courses
were not required to include information relating to alcohol awareness and
the effect of alcohol on the effective operation of a motor vehicle.  H.B.
1224 requires the Texas Education Agency (agency) to require by rule that
information relating to alcohol awareness and the effect of alcohol on the
effective operation of a motor vehicle be included in the curriculum of any
driver education or driving safety course governed by the Texas Driver and
Traffic Safety Education Act.  Additionally, this bill requires the agency
to consult with the Department of Public Safety in developing those rules. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Education Agency in SECTION 1
(Section 4, Article 4413(29c), V.T.C.S. (Texas Driver and Traffic Safety
Education Act)) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 4, Article 4413(29c), V.T.C.S. (Texas Driver and
Traffic Safety Education Act), by adding Subsection (c), as follows: 

(c) Requires the Texas Education Agency (agency), by rule, to require that
information relating to alcohol awareness and the effect of alcohol on the
effective operation of a motor vehicle be included in the curriculum of any
driver education or driving safety course that is governed by this article.
Requires the agency to consult with the Department of Public Safety in
developing those rules. 

SECTION 2.  Requires the agency to adopt the rules specified by Section
4(c), Article 4413(29c), V.T.C.S. (Texas Driver and Traffic Safety
Education Act), as added by SECTION 1 of this Act, no later than January 1,
2000. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.