Section 15.7 - Occupational License (Essential Need)(a) An occupational license is a restricted driver license that permits the operation of a non-commercial motor vehicle when a license has been suspended or revoked. An occupational license cannot be issued if the applicant is revoked for medical reasons or suspended for failure to pay child support.(b) If there are eligibility issues that would prevent the issuance of a driver license other than the suspension or revocation of the privilege to operate a motor vehicle, those issues must be rectified before the department can issue an occupational license. For example, if an applicant has never held a driver license or the applicant's driver license has been expired for more than two years, the applicant must take and pass all examinations prior to the issuance of an occupational license. (c) In order for the department to issue an occupational license, the applicant must submit the items detailed in this section to the department's headquarters in Austin: (1) a certified copy of the petition and a certified copy of the court order granting the occupational license issued by a justice, county or district court;(2) an SR-22 (certificate of insurance); (3) payment of all required reinstatement fees; and(4) payment of the appropriate issuance fee.(d) The fee is $10 for one year or less. If the suspension or revocation is more than one year and permitted by the court order, the applicant may apply for a two year occupational license and submit an additional $10 fee for the second year.(e) The department will notify the license holder if the occupational license has been revoked by the court that issued the order for the occupational license. Any application for a subsequent occupational license will require the submission of a new petition and court order.37 Tex. Admin. Code § 15.7
The provisions of this §15.7 adopted to be effective January 1, 1976; amended to be effective January 29, 1985, 10 TexReg 172; amended to be effective November 27, 1990, 15 TexReg 6501; amended to be effective May 10, 2000, 25 TexReg 4190; amended to be effective October 30, 2000, 25 TexReg 10746; amended to be effective December 25, 2003, 28 TexReg 11342; amended to be effective December 13, 2009, 34 TexReg 8783; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 41, Number 11, March 11, 2016, TexReg 1861, eff. 3/15/2016; Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 41, Number 53, December 30, 2016, TexReg 10661, eff. 1/5/2017