S.B. No. 1756
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the issuance of driver's licenses and personal
  identification certificates and the classification and operation
  of certain vehicles; authorizing a fee.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 521.001, Transportation Code, is amended
  by amending Subsection (a)(6-a) and adding Subsection (c) to read
  as follows:
               (6-a)  "Motorcycle" includes an enclosed three-wheeled
  passenger vehicle that:
                     (A)  is designed to operate with three wheels in
  contact with the ground;
                     (B)  [has a minimum unladen weight of 900 lbs.;
                     [(C)]  has a single, completely enclosed,
  occupant compartment; and
                     (C) [(D)]  at a minimum, is equipped with:
                           (i)  seats that are certified by the vehicle
  manufacturer to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle
  Safety Standard No. 207, 49 C.F.R. Section 571.207;
                           (ii)  a steering wheel used to maneuver the
  vehicle;
                           (iii)  a propulsion unit located in front of
  or behind the enclosed occupant compartment;
                           (iv)  a seat belt for each vehicle occupant
  certified by the manufacturer to meet the requirements of Federal
  Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 209, 49 C.F.R. Section 571.209;
                           (v)  a windshield and one or more windshield
  wipers certified by the manufacturer to meet the requirements of
  Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205, 49 C.F.R. Section
  571.205, and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 104, 49
  C.F.R. Section 571.104; [and]
                           (vi)  a vehicle structure certified by the
  vehicle manufacturer to meet the requirements of Federal Motor
  Vehicle Safety Standard No. 216, 49 C.F.R. Section 571.216, if:
                                 (a)  the unladen weight of the vehicle
  is more than 900 pounds; or
                                 (b)  the unladen weight of the vehicle
  is not more than 900 pounds and the vehicle has a maximum speed
  capability of more than 40 miles per hour; and
                           (vii)  an active tilt control system if the
  unladen weight of the vehicle is not more than 900 pounds and the
  vehicle has a maximum speed capability of 40 miles per hour or
  less[; and
                     [(E)     is produced by its manufacturer in a minimum
  quantity of 300 in any calendar year].
         (c)  The department by rule may define types of vehicles that
  are "motorcycles" for the purposes of this chapter, in addition to
  those defined under Subsection (a)(6-a).  The Texas Department of
  Motor Vehicles by rule may define the types of vehicles that are
  "motorcycles" for the purposes of Chapters 501, 502, and 503.  This
  subsection applies only to vehicles manufactured by a manufacturer
  licensed under Chapter 2301, Occupations Code.
         SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 521.008, Transportation
  Code, as added by Chapter 1233 (S.B. 1729), Acts of the 83rd
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 521.008.  [PILOT] PROGRAM REGARDING THE PROVISION OF
  RENEWAL AND DUPLICATE DRIVER'S LICENSE AND OTHER IDENTIFICATION
  CERTIFICATE SERVICES.
         SECTION 3.  Sections 521.008(a) and (a-1), Transportation
  Code, as added by Chapter 1233 (S.B. 1729), Acts of the 83rd
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The department may establish a [pilot] program for the
  provision of renewal and duplicate driver's license, election
  identification certificate, and personal identification
  certificate services in counties that enter into an agreement with
  the department under Subsection (a-1)[:
               [(1)     not more than three counties with a population of
  50,000 or less;
               [(2)     not more than three counties with a population of
  more than 50,000 but less than 1,000,001;
               [(3)     not more than two counties with a population of
  more than one million; and
               [(4)     notwithstanding Subdivisions (1)-(3), any county
  in which the department operates a driver's license office as a
  scheduled or mobile office].
         (a-1)  Under the [pilot] program, the department may enter
  into an agreement with the commissioners court of a county to permit
  county employees to provide services at a county office relating to
  the issuance of renewal and duplicate driver's licenses, election
  identification certificates, and personal identification
  certificates, including:
               (1)  taking photographs;
               (2)  administering vision tests;
               (3)  updating a driver's license, election
  identification certificate, or personal identification certificate
  to change a name, address, or photograph;
               (4)  distributing and collecting information relating
  to donations under Section 521.401;
               (5)  collecting fees; and
               (6)  performing other basic ministerial functions and
  tasks necessary to issue renewal and duplicate driver's licenses,
  election identification certificates, and personal identification
  certificates.
         SECTION 4.  Section 521.085(b), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Subsection (a) does not prohibit a license holder from
  operating a lesser type of vehicle that is:
               (1)  a motorcycle described by Section
  521.001(a)(6-a); or
               (2)  a type of motorcycle defined by the department
  under Section 521.001(c) and designated by the department as
  qualifying for operation under this section.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter I, Chapter 545, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 545.4165 to read as follows:
         Sec. 545.4165.  OPERATION OF CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES. A person
  may not operate a motorcycle described by Section
  521.001(a)(6-a)(C)(vii) on a public highway for which the posted
  speed limit is more than 45 miles per hour, except that the operator
  may cross an intersection with a public highway that has a posted
  speed limit of more than 45 miles per hour.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1756 passed the Senate on
  April 28, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1;
  May 28, 2015, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
  requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 29, 2015, House
  granted request of the Senate; May 31, 2015, Senate adopted
  Conference Committee Report by the following vote:  Yeas 29,
  Nays 2.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1756 passed the House, with
  amendments, on May 22, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 134,
  Nays 0, three present not voting; May 29, 2015, House granted
  request of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
  May 31, 2015, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
  following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 0, two present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
             Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor