Driver Training and Traffic Safety

DRIVER TRAINING AND TRAFFIC SAFETY

ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING

September 22, 2016

North Campus, 1st Floor Public Meeting Room #125E
1106 Clayton Lane, Austin, Texas

Summary of Meeting Minutes

Presiding Officer, Ricardo Benavides, called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.

Presiding Officer, Ricardo Benavides, moved to agenda item B. Roll Call, Certification of Quorum, and Introductions. Committee Members, Ricardo Benavides, David Bruce, Blake Garrett, Nina Jo Saint, Cindi Jo Newlin, Patricia Larke, Carlos Reyna and Glenn Winningham were present. Board Members Frances Gomez and Kevin Knapp were absent. A quorum of the board was present.

Presiding Officer, Ricardo Benavides, second by Carlos Reyna made a motion to excuse the absences of Frances Gomez and Kevin Knapp. Motion passed unanimously in favor.

Presiding Officer, Ricardo Benavides moved to agenda item C. Approval of the Minutes – July 12, 2016. Committee Member, Dr. Patricia Larke, second by Carlos Reyna, made a motion to approve the Minutes of July 12, 2016 as presented. Motion passed unanimously in favor.

Presiding Officer, Ricardo Benavides moved to agenda item D. Public Comment. Public comments from Ms. Kristina Camacho with Safeway Driving, presented documentation to the Committee; Ms. Nancy Fisher with National Safety Commission; Patrick Barrett, with Driver Ed in a Box, LLC., and Roger Lott with The Original Car Doctor.

Presiding Officer, Ricardo Benavides moved to agenda item E.1. Staff Reports. Executive Office Report. Brian Francis, Executive Director, welcomed the Committee; Brad Bowman, General Counsel, gave an update on the status of Donnika Ivy et al. v. Mike Morath, Texas Commissioner of Education, No. 15-486 in the Supreme Court of the United States. Brian Francis, Executive Director reported on the Legislative Appropriations Request, exceptional items and 4% budget reduction. Strategic Planning relating to driver training – redundancies and impediments.

Presiding Officer, Ricardo Benavides moved to agenda item E.2. Compliance Division. Lee Parham, Program Manager, introduced new employee Michael Strawn, formerly from DPS, and presented the staff report for the Compliance Division.

Presiding Officer, Ricardo Benavides moved to agenda item E.3. Education and Examination Division. Shanisty Villanueva, Program Specialist, presented the E & E Division staff report and answered questions from the Committee.

Presiding Officer, Ricardo Benavides moved to agenda item E.4. Enforcement Division. Robert Rennich, Prosecutor, Enforcement Division, presented the Enforcement Division staff report.

Presiding Officer, Ricardo Benavides moved to agenda item E.5. Licensing Division. Chloe Adkins, Program Specialist, presented the Licensing Division staff report.

Presiding Officer, Ricardo Benavides moved to agenda item F. Discussion and possible recommendation for publication in the Texas Register, the repeal and new rules of 16 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 84, and public comments received from the department website advance posting. The new rules are streamlined and reorganized for public ease, clarify licensing requirements, and correct agency references from TEA to the department. Deputy General Counsel, Della Lindquist, and Director of Education and Examination, Ray Pizarro, presented the timeline for the rules and also presented the draft rules and discussed the comments received. Discussions ensued with the Committee Members.

Presiding Officer Ricardo Benavides called for a break at 11:21 a.m. and reconvened at 11:41 a.m.

Della Lindquist and Ray Pizarro continued with the proposed draft rules.

Committee Member, Carlos Reyna, second by Nina Jo Saint, made a motion to make changes to Section 84.64 as recommended. Motion passed unanimously in favor.

Committee Member Patricia Larke, second by Carlos Reyna made a motion to make changes to the draft rules as recommended. Motion passed unanimously in favor.

Presiding Officer, Ricardo Benavides moved to agenda item G. Recommendations for agenda items for next Committee meeting. Staff Reports, workgroup meeting reports.

Presiding Officer, Ricardo Benavides moved to agenda item H. Discussion of date, time, and location of next Committee meeting. Next meeting date to be determined at the October 20, 2016 Summit meeting. Summit to start at 10:00 a.m.

Presiding Officer, Ricardo Benavides moved to agenda item I. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.

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Ricardo Benavides, Presiding Officer

Driver Training and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee