TITLE 37.PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS

Part 1. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Chapter 16. COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSE

Subchapter B. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATIONS

37 TAC §16.44, §16.47

The Texas Department of Public Safety adopts amendments to §16.44 and §16.47, concerning Commercial Driver's License (CDL), without changes to the proposed text as published in the December 8, 2000, issue of the Texas Register (25 TexReg 12154) and will not republish them.

The justification for the sections will be improved knowledge of hazardous materials information by CDL operators carrying this type of cargo.

Language is added and deleted in §16.44(e) and §16.47(d) because federal statute allows for the waiver of the hazardous materials examination for Commercial Driver License (CDL) applicants holding a valid out of state CDL provided this examination was taken within the immediate two years preceding the date of application in Texas. Federal and state statute does not allow for this when renewing a Texas CDL. In order to be consistent in applying the hazardous materials knowledge examination requirement, the amendment to §16.44(e) and §16.47(d) requires all CDL applicants to be processed in the same manner and requires that the hazardous materials knowledge examination must be taken and passed in order to retain this endorsement.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the amendments.

The amendments are adopted pursuant to Texas Government Code, §411.004(3), which authorizes the Public Safety Commission to adopt rules considered necessary for carrying out the department's work and Texas Transportation Code, §521.005.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on March 8, 2001.

TRD-200101411

Thomas A. Davis, Jr.

Director

Texas Department of Public Safety

Effective date: March 28, 2001

Proposal publication date: December 8, 2000

For further information, please call: (512) 424-2135


Subchapter C. CHANGE OF LICENSE STATUS, RENEWALS, SURRENDER OF LICENSE, FEES

37 TAC §16.72

The Texas Department of Public Safety adopts amendments to §16.72, concerning Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Renewals, without changes to the proposed text as published in the December 8, 2000, issue of the Texas Register (25 TexReg 12155) and will not be republished.

The justification for this section will be compliance with both federal and state statutes and improved knowledge of hazardous materials information by CDL operators carrying this type of cargo.

The department determined that the rule was in conflict with both federal and state statutes by allowing for the renewal of a Commercial Driver License (CDL) with a hazardous materials endorsement without reexamination if the addition of the hazardous materials endorsement had occurred within the past two years immediately preceding the date of renewal. Amendments to subsections (a) and (b) delete language, which was in conflict with federal and state statutes and will require a CDL applicant for renewal to take and pass the hazardous materials knowledge examination in order to retain that endorsement.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the amendments.

The amendment is adopted pursuant to Texas Government Code, §411.004(3), which authorizes the Public Safety Commission to adopt rules considered necessary for carrying out the department's work and Texas Transportation Code, §521.005.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on March 8, 2001.

TRD-200101410

Thomas A. Davis, Jr.

Director

Texas Department of Public Safety

Effective date: March 28, 2001

Proposal publication date: December 8, 2000

For further information, please call: (512) 424-2135