H.B. No. 3483
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to requirements for a driver education course, the
  eligibility of persons under 18 years of age to operate a motor
  vehicle, and the administration of certain driver's license
  examinations by home-taught driver education course providers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1001.101, Education Code, as amended by
  Chapters 1253 (H.B. 339) and 1413 (S.B. 1317), Acts of the 81st
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, is reenacted and amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 1001.101.  ADULT AND MINOR DRIVER EDUCATION COURSE
  CURRICULUM AND TEXTBOOKS. (a) The commissioner by rule shall
  establish or approve the curriculum and designate the textbooks to
  be used in a driver education course for minors and adults,
  including a driver education course conducted by a school district,
  driver education school, or parent or other individual under
  Section 521.205, Transportation Code.
         (b)  A driver education course must require the student to
  complete:
               (1)  7 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction in the
  presence of a person who holds a driver education instructor
  license or who meets the requirements imposed under Section
  521.205, Transportation Code;
               (2)  7 hours of observation instruction in the presence
  of a person who holds a driver education instructor license or who
  meets the requirements imposed under Section 521.205,
  Transportation Code; and
               (3)  30 [20] hours of behind-the-wheel instruction,
  including at least 10 hours of instruction that takes place at
  night, in the presence of an adult who meets the requirements of
  Section 521.222(d)(2), Transportation Code.
         SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 521.1655, Transportation
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 521.1655.  TESTING BY DRIVER EDUCATION SCHOOL AND
  CERTAIN DRIVER EDUCATION COURSE PROVIDERS.
         SECTION 3.  Section 521.1655, Transportation Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
         (a-1)  A driver education course provider approved under
  Section 521.205 may administer to a student of that course the
  highway sign and traffic law parts of the examination required by
  Section 521.161.
         SECTION 4.  Section 521.205(c), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  The rules must provide a method by which:
               (1)  approval of a course is obtained;
               (2)  an applicant submits proof of completion of the
  course; [and]
               (3)  approval for delivering course materials by an
  alternative method, including electronic means, is obtained;
               (4)  a provider of a course approved under this section
  may administer to an applicant the highway sign and traffic law
  parts of the examination as provided by Section 521.1655(a-1)
  through electronic means; and
               (5)  an applicant submits proof of passage of an
  examination administered under Subdivision (4).
         SECTION 5.  Section 545.424(a-1), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a-1)  A person under 18 years of age may not operate a motor
  vehicle  [during the 12-month period following issuance of an
  original Class A, B, or C driver's license to the person]:
               (1)  after midnight and before 5 a.m. unless the
  operation of the vehicle is necessary for the operator to attend or
  participate in employment or a school-related activity or because
  of a medical emergency; or
               (2)  with more than one passenger in the vehicle under
  21 years of age who is not a family member.
         SECTION 6.  The change in law made by Section 1001.101(b),
  Education Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to a driver
  education course that begins on or after the effective date of this
  Act. A course that begins before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the course began, and that
  law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 7.  The D
  epartment of Public Safety shall adopt the
  rules required by Section 521.205, Transportation Code, as amended
  by this Act, not later than January 1, 2014.
         SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3483 was passed by the House on May 2,
  2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 2, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 3483 on May 23, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 137, Nays 8,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3483 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 20, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 28, Nays
  3.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor