(a) Notwithstanding any other law and subject to Subsection (a-1), the department may accept an application from an applicant who is an inmate imprisoned in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice except that the department may not issue the license until the applicant has been released.
(a-1) The department may issue a license to an applicant who is an inmate imprisoned in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and who is enrolled in or has completed an educational program described by Section 53.0211(b-1)(2) before the applicant has been released.
(b) This section does not limit the ability of the department to determine or verify the applicant's eligibility for the license or to issue a provisional or restricted license in accordance with other law.