H.B. No. 438
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the courts authorized to issue an occupational driver's
  license.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 521.242(a), (b), and (e),
  Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A person whose license has been suspended for a cause
  other than a physical or mental disability or impairment or a
  conviction under Section 49.04, Penal Code, may apply for an
  occupational license by filing a verified petition with the clerk
  of a justice, [the] county, [court] or district court with
  jurisdiction that includes [in] the precinct or county in which:
               (1)  the person resides; or
               (2)  the offense occurred for which the license was
  suspended.
         (b)  A person may apply for an occupational license by filing
  a verified petition only with the clerk of the [county court or
  district] court in which the person was convicted if:
               (1)  the person's license has been automatically
  suspended or canceled under this chapter for a conviction of an
  offense under the laws of this state; and
               (2)  the person has not been issued, in the 10 years
  preceding the date of the filing of the petition, more than one
  occupational license after a conviction under the laws of this
  state.
         (e)  The clerk of the court shall file the petition as in any
  other [civil] matter.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an occupational driver's license that is applied for on or after
  the effective date of this Act. An occupational driver's license
  applied for before the effective date of this Act is covered by the
  law in effect on the date the application was filed, and the former
  law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 438 was passed by the House on May 2,
  2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 3, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 438 was passed by the Senate on May
  22, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor