S.B. No. 2054
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the payment of fees and costs associated with driver
  education and safety courses and driver's license examinations for
  foster children or youth, former foster children or youth, and
  youth experiencing homelessness.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 521.168 to read as follows:
         Sec. 521.168.  PAYMENT OF FEES FOR CERTAIN FOSTER AND
  HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTHS. (a) Unless prohibited under Section
  521.4265(c), the Texas Workforce Commission shall on request pay
  the fees associated with meeting a requirement imposed under this
  subchapter or Chapter 1001, Education Code, for a person who is:
               (1)  eligible for a driver's license fee exemption
  under Section 521.1811; or
               (2)  younger than 26 years of age and:
                     (A)  was in the managing conservatorship of the
  Department of Family and Protective Services on the day before the
  person's 18th birthday; or
                     (B)  is a homeless child or youth as defined by 42
  U.S.C. Section 11434a.
         (b)  The Texas Workforce Commission by rule shall establish a
  process by which:
               (1)  a person described by Subsection (a) may apply to
  that commission for the payment of fees under this section; and
               (2)  that commission pays fees associated with meeting
  a requirement imposed under this subchapter or Chapter 1001,
  Education Code, to appropriate entities on behalf of the person
  described by Subsection (a).
         SECTION 2.  Section 521.4265, Transportation Code, is
  amended by amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection
  (d) to read as follows:
         (b)  From the money in the identification fee exemption
  account the department shall:
               (1)  request that the comptroller transfer to the Texas
  Workforce Commission amounts sufficient to cover the cost of
  implementing the program under Section 521.168, including amounts
  sufficient for the payment by the Texas Workforce Commission of:
                     (A)  fees to entities other than the department;
  and
                     (B)  the Texas Workforce Commission's
  implementation costs; and
               (2)  for [For] each exemption granted under Section
  521.1015 or 521.1811, [the department shall] deposit to the credit
  of the Texas mobility fund an amount [from the identification fee
  exemption account under Subsection (a)] that is equal to the amount
  of the waived fee that would otherwise be deposited to the mobility
  fund.
         (c)  The department may not:
               (1)  request a transfer under Subsection (b)(1) if the
  balance of the account for the fiscal year is less than three times
  the amount expended in the previous fiscal year for the waivers
  provided by Sections 521.1015(e) and 521.1811; or
               (2)  grant an exemption under Section 521.1015 or
  521.1811 if money is not available in the identification fee
  exemption account to meet the requirements of Subsection (b)(2)
  [(b)].
         (d)  The department, in consultation with the Texas
  Workforce Commission, by rule shall establish a process by which
  transfers are made under Subsection (b).
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2054 passed the Senate on    
  April 29, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
  the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 27, 2021, by the
  following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2054 passed the House, with
  amendment, on May 23, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 137,
  Nays 7, one present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor