Sec. 521.205. DEPARTMENT-APPROVED COURSES  


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  • (a) The department by rule shall provide for approval of a driver education course conducted by the parent, stepparent, foster parent, legal guardian, step-grandparent, or grandparent of a person who is required to complete a driver education course to obtain a Class C license. The rules must provide that:

    (1) the person conducting the course possess a valid license for the preceding three years that has not been suspended, revoked, or forfeited in the past three years for an offense that involves the operation of a motor vehicle;

    (2) the student driver spend a minimum number of hours in:

    (A) classroom instruction; and

    (B) behind-the-wheel instruction;

    (3) the person conducting the course not be convicted of:

    (A) criminally negligent homicide; or

    (B) driving while intoxicated;

    (4) the person conducting the course not be disabled because of mental illness; and

    (5) the person conducting the course not have six or more points assigned to the person's driver's license under Subchapter B, Chapter 708, at the time the person begins conducting the course.

    (b) The department may not approve a course unless it determines that the course materials are at least equal to those required in a course approved by the Texas Education Agency, except that the department may not require that:

    (1) the classroom instruction be provided in a room with particular characteristics or equipment; or

    (2) the vehicle used for the behind-the-wheel instruction have equipment other than the equipment otherwise required by law for operation of the vehicle on a highway while the vehicle is not being used for driver training.

    (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.

    (d) Completion of a driver education course approved under this section has the same effect under this chapter as completion of a driver education course approved by the Texas Education Agency.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 30.79(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 721, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1196, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1146 , Sec. 12.07, eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1253 , Sec. 14, eff. September 1, 2009.