Sec. 1001.112. PARENT-TAUGHT DRIVER EDUCATION. (a) The commission by rule shall provide for approval of a driver education course conducted by the parent, stepparent, foster parent, legal guardian, grandparent, or step-grandparent of a person who is required to complete a driver education course to obtain a Class C license. The rules must provide that the student driver spend a minimum number of hours in classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction and that the person conducting the course:
(1) 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) has not been convicted of:
(A) criminally negligent homicide; or
(B) driving while intoxicated;
(3) is not disabled because of mental illness; and
(4) does not have six or more points assigned to the person's driver's license under Subchapter B, Chapter 708, Transportation Code, at the time the person begins conducting the course.
(b) The department may approve a course described by Subsection (a) if the department determines that the course materials are at least equal to those required in a course approved by the department, and 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;
(3) approval for delivering course materials by an alternative method, including electronic means, is obtained;
(4) a provider of a course approved under this section may administer to an applicant the highway sign and traffic law parts of the examination as provided by Section 521.1655(a-1), Transportation Code, through electronic means; and
(5) an applicant submits proof of passage of an examination administered under Subdivision (4).
(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 department.
Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1044 (H.B. 1786), Sec. 26, eff. September 1, 2015.
Last modified: September 28, 2016