A political subdivision must immediately tell the department when there is no reason to keep denying a driver’s license renewal, and the department may not keep denying renewal after certain notices are received.
Sec. 706.005. CLEARANCE NOTICE TO DEPARTMENT. (a) A political subdivision shall immediately notify the department that there is no cause to continue to deny renewal of a person's driver's license based on the person's previous failure to appear or failure to pay or satisfy a judgment ordering the payment of a fine and cost in the manner ordered by the court in a matter involving an offense described by Section 706.002(a), on payment of a reimbursement fee, or on a finding by the court that the person is indigent and not required to pay a reimbursement fee, as provided by Section 706.006 and: (1) the perfection of an appeal of the case for which the warrant of arrest was issued or judgment arose; (2) the dismissal of the charge for which the warrant of arrest was issued or judgment arose, other than a dismissal with prejudice by motion of the appropriate prosecuting attorney for lack of evidence; (3) the posting of bond or the giving of other security to reinstate the charge for which the warrant was issued; (4) the payment or discharge of the fine and cost owed on an outstanding judgment of the court; or (5) other suitable arrangement to satisfy the fine and cost within the court's discretion. (b) The department may not continue to deny the renewal of the person's driver's license under this chapter after the department receives notice: (1) under Subsection (a); (2) that the person was acquitted of the charge on which the person failed to appear; (3) that the charge on which the person failed to appear was dismissed with prejudice by motion of the appropriate prosecuting attorney for lack of evidence; or (4) from the political subdivision that the failure to appear report or court order to pay a fine or cost relating to the person: (A) was sent to the department in error; or (B) has been destroyed in accordance with the political subdivision's records retention policy. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 30.161(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 17.37(c), eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 999, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1498, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1171 (H.B. 2949), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 977 (H.B. 351), Sec. 28, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1127 (S.B. 1913), Sec. 25, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1352 (S.B. 346), Sec. 4.39, eff. January 1, 2020. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 386 (H.B. 291), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2023.