HBA-MSH H.B. 3330 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3330
By: Williams
Public Safety
3/28/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Suspension, revocation, and denial of a driver's license are common
disciplinary measures for actions such as failing an intoxication test,
delinquent payment of child support, and certain juvenile offenses.
However, only when a license is suspended, revoked, or denied for certain
infractions or for an alcohol related offense is it an offense to operate a
motor vehicle during the period of suspension, revocation, or denial.
Therefore suspension, revocation, or denial of a driver's license may not
be as strong a deterrent as it is intended to be.  House Bill 3330 makes it
an offense to operate a motor vehicle on any  public roadway during the
period a license is suspended, revoked, or denied. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3330 amends the Transportation Code to provide that a person
commits an offense if the person operates a motor vehicle on a public
roadway rather than a highway while the person's driver's license or
driving privilege is suspended, revoked, canceled, denied, or while the
person is prohibited from obtaining a driver's license under any state law.
In addition, it is an offense to operate a motor vehicle on a public
roadway while a person's driver's license is expired if the license expired
during a period of suspension, revocation, disqualification, cancellation,
or denial imposed under any state law.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.