MEMORANDUM
KEITH M. LUNDIN, Bankruptcy Judge.
Section 55-12-106(15) of the Tennessee Financial Responsibility Act discriminates against debtors in bankruptcy in violation of 11 U.S.C. § 525(a).
The following are findings of fact and conclusions of law. Bankr.R. 7052. This is a core proceeding. 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(A).
I.
These Chapter 13 debtors were involved in unrelated prepetition automobile accidents. Each scheduled the accident-related claims as dischargeable debts. All were without insurance. Each debtor’s driver’s license was subject to revocation under the Tennessee Financial Responsibility Act (“TFRA”). TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-101
et seq.
(1980 & Supp.1986).
Debtor Kenny Norton’s (“Norton”) accident occurred on February 4, 1986. He filed Chapter 13 on June 9, 1986. The Department of Safety (“Department”) noticed him on November 10, 1986 that his driver’s license would be revoked unless he complied with TFRA. On December 1, 1986, Norton’s attorney advised the Department of the bankruptcy filing in an effort to avoid license revocation. Norton’s license was revoked on January 22, 1987.
Debtor Deborah L. Meece’s (“Meece”) accident occurred on July 26, 1985. Meece agreed to accept responsibility for the damages under TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-
106(7)
to avoid license revocation. Her Chapter 13 was filed on May 12, 1986. Meece failed to fulfill the conditional agreement and her license was revoked on September 23, 1986.
Debtor Helen Reynolds’ (“Reynolds”) accident occurred on June 25, 1986. Reynolds received the Department’s notice of pending license revocation dated November 3.1986. She filed Chapter 13 on November 20.1986. Reynolds’ license was revoked on January 22, 1987.
Debtor Thomas L. Hargrove’s (“Har-grove”) accident occurred on October 7, 1983. A judgment for accident-related damages was entered against him in state court. Hargrove filed Chapter 13 on September 15, 1986. His driver’s license was revoked on September 25, 1986 for failure to satisfy the judgment within 60 days pursuant to TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-118.
Debtor Dale Lavinia Davidson’s (“Davidson”) accident occurred on February 2, 1985. Davidson filed Chapter 13 on September 17, 1986. The Department mailed Davidson a revocation notice on January 26, 1987 and revoked her license on February 15, 1987.
Debtor David L. Givens’ (“Givens”) accident occurred on April 24, 1986. Givens filed Chapter 13 on September 19, 1986. The Department’s revocation notice was dated January 15, 1987. Givens’ license was revoked on February 4, 1987.,
Debtor Patricia A. Lewis’ (“Lewis”) accident occurred on March 30, 1986. Lewis filed Chapter 13 on July 8, 1986. The revocation notice was dated September 1, 1986 and her license was revoked on September 21, 1986.
II.
Under TFRA, the driver’s license of an owner or operator of an automobile who is involved in an accident resulting in injury, death or property damage in excess of $200 is subject to revocation unless the offender can prove financial security to the Department. Acceptable proof of financial security includes insurance coverage, a deposit of cash, a bond, or releases by all parties. TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-105(b) (1980 & Supp.1986).
License revocation can be avoided if the licensee falls within one of 15 exceptions to revocation in § 55-12-106. The 15 subpar-agraphs of TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-106 are reproduced in the margin
to ex
hibit one of the problems here under attack: There are many owners and operators excepted from the license revocation process; among those entitled to avoid license revocation, only debtors in bankruptcy must pay “a restoration fee of sixty-five dollars ($65.00).” TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-106(15) (1980 & Supp.1986).
If license revocation has occurred, driving privileges can be restored by complying with § 55-12-108.
All who seek reis-
suance of a revoked license under § 55-12-108, including" bankruptcy debtors, must pay a $65 restoration fee. TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-108(a)(8). (1980 & Supp. 1986).
Section 55-12-118
imposes revocation if a final judgment entered as a result of an accident remains unpaid for 60 days. A license revoked under § 55-12-118 can be reinstated as allowed in § 55-12-108. Revocation can be avoided if the parties submit an agreement for payment of damages before revocation. The $65 restoration fee is not required to avoid revocation under § 55-12-118.
All seven debtors now maintain automobile liability insurance as proof of financial responsibility.
See
TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-126(a) (1980 & Supp.1986). All debtors have passed a driver's license examination. Debtors refuse to pay the $65 “restoration fee” and claim the $65 fee under § 55-12-106(15) to avoid revocation and under § 55-12-108(a)(8) to restore driving privileges is applied discriminatorily against debtors in violation of 11 U.S.C. § 525. Debtors also assert that post-petition revocation of their drivers’ licenses violates the automatic stay.
III.
“Deciding whether a state statute is in conflict with a federal statute and hence invalid under the Supremacy Clause is essentially a two-step process of first ascertaining the construction of the two statutes and then determining the constitutional question whether they are in conflict.”
Perez v. Campbell,
402 U.S. 637, 644, 91 S.Ct. 1704, 1708, 29 L.Ed.2d 233, 239 (1971). There are preliminary questions of interpretation of the Tennessee statute.
Under TFRA, a debtor “who has
obtained a discharge
in bankruptcy that discharged all claims against the person because of the accident listed in the petition” may avoid revocation of a driver’s license. TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-106(15) (1980 ed. & Supp.1986) (emphasis added). A debtor whose driver’s license has already been revoked who
“submits a discharge
in bankruptcy which discharges all claims of persons involved in the accident with him” may have driving privileges reinstated. TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-108(a)(6), (8) (1980 ed. & Supp.1986) (emphasis added).
“Discharge” is a term of art in bankruptcy cases. In a Chapter 7 case the court “shall grant” the debtor a discharge if the debtor is eligible under 11 U.S.C. § 727. These debtors have filed Chapter 13 cases. Under 11 U.S.C.
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MEMORANDUM
KEITH M. LUNDIN, Bankruptcy Judge.
Section 55-12-106(15) of the Tennessee Financial Responsibility Act discriminates against debtors in bankruptcy in violation of 11 U.S.C. § 525(a).
The following are findings of fact and conclusions of law. Bankr.R. 7052. This is a core proceeding. 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(A).
I.
These Chapter 13 debtors were involved in unrelated prepetition automobile accidents. Each scheduled the accident-related claims as dischargeable debts. All were without insurance. Each debtor’s driver’s license was subject to revocation under the Tennessee Financial Responsibility Act (“TFRA”). TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-101
et seq.
(1980 & Supp.1986).
Debtor Kenny Norton’s (“Norton”) accident occurred on February 4, 1986. He filed Chapter 13 on June 9, 1986. The Department of Safety (“Department”) noticed him on November 10, 1986 that his driver’s license would be revoked unless he complied with TFRA. On December 1, 1986, Norton’s attorney advised the Department of the bankruptcy filing in an effort to avoid license revocation. Norton’s license was revoked on January 22, 1987.
Debtor Deborah L. Meece’s (“Meece”) accident occurred on July 26, 1985. Meece agreed to accept responsibility for the damages under TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-
106(7)
to avoid license revocation. Her Chapter 13 was filed on May 12, 1986. Meece failed to fulfill the conditional agreement and her license was revoked on September 23, 1986.
Debtor Helen Reynolds’ (“Reynolds”) accident occurred on June 25, 1986. Reynolds received the Department’s notice of pending license revocation dated November 3.1986. She filed Chapter 13 on November 20.1986. Reynolds’ license was revoked on January 22, 1987.
Debtor Thomas L. Hargrove’s (“Har-grove”) accident occurred on October 7, 1983. A judgment for accident-related damages was entered against him in state court. Hargrove filed Chapter 13 on September 15, 1986. His driver’s license was revoked on September 25, 1986 for failure to satisfy the judgment within 60 days pursuant to TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-118.
Debtor Dale Lavinia Davidson’s (“Davidson”) accident occurred on February 2, 1985. Davidson filed Chapter 13 on September 17, 1986. The Department mailed Davidson a revocation notice on January 26, 1987 and revoked her license on February 15, 1987.
Debtor David L. Givens’ (“Givens”) accident occurred on April 24, 1986. Givens filed Chapter 13 on September 19, 1986. The Department’s revocation notice was dated January 15, 1987. Givens’ license was revoked on February 4, 1987.,
Debtor Patricia A. Lewis’ (“Lewis”) accident occurred on March 30, 1986. Lewis filed Chapter 13 on July 8, 1986. The revocation notice was dated September 1, 1986 and her license was revoked on September 21, 1986.
II.
Under TFRA, the driver’s license of an owner or operator of an automobile who is involved in an accident resulting in injury, death or property damage in excess of $200 is subject to revocation unless the offender can prove financial security to the Department. Acceptable proof of financial security includes insurance coverage, a deposit of cash, a bond, or releases by all parties. TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-105(b) (1980 & Supp.1986).
License revocation can be avoided if the licensee falls within one of 15 exceptions to revocation in § 55-12-106. The 15 subpar-agraphs of TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-106 are reproduced in the margin
to ex
hibit one of the problems here under attack: There are many owners and operators excepted from the license revocation process; among those entitled to avoid license revocation, only debtors in bankruptcy must pay “a restoration fee of sixty-five dollars ($65.00).” TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-106(15) (1980 & Supp.1986).
If license revocation has occurred, driving privileges can be restored by complying with § 55-12-108.
All who seek reis-
suance of a revoked license under § 55-12-108, including" bankruptcy debtors, must pay a $65 restoration fee. TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-108(a)(8). (1980 & Supp. 1986).
Section 55-12-118
imposes revocation if a final judgment entered as a result of an accident remains unpaid for 60 days. A license revoked under § 55-12-118 can be reinstated as allowed in § 55-12-108. Revocation can be avoided if the parties submit an agreement for payment of damages before revocation. The $65 restoration fee is not required to avoid revocation under § 55-12-118.
All seven debtors now maintain automobile liability insurance as proof of financial responsibility.
See
TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-126(a) (1980 & Supp.1986). All debtors have passed a driver's license examination. Debtors refuse to pay the $65 “restoration fee” and claim the $65 fee under § 55-12-106(15) to avoid revocation and under § 55-12-108(a)(8) to restore driving privileges is applied discriminatorily against debtors in violation of 11 U.S.C. § 525. Debtors also assert that post-petition revocation of their drivers’ licenses violates the automatic stay.
III.
“Deciding whether a state statute is in conflict with a federal statute and hence invalid under the Supremacy Clause is essentially a two-step process of first ascertaining the construction of the two statutes and then determining the constitutional question whether they are in conflict.”
Perez v. Campbell,
402 U.S. 637, 644, 91 S.Ct. 1704, 1708, 29 L.Ed.2d 233, 239 (1971). There are preliminary questions of interpretation of the Tennessee statute.
Under TFRA, a debtor “who has
obtained a discharge
in bankruptcy that discharged all claims against the person because of the accident listed in the petition” may avoid revocation of a driver’s license. TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-106(15) (1980 ed. & Supp.1986) (emphasis added). A debtor whose driver’s license has already been revoked who
“submits a discharge
in bankruptcy which discharges all claims of persons involved in the accident with him” may have driving privileges reinstated. TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-108(a)(6), (8) (1980 ed. & Supp.1986) (emphasis added).
“Discharge” is a term of art in bankruptcy cases. In a Chapter 7 case the court “shall grant” the debtor a discharge if the debtor is eligible under 11 U.S.C. § 727. These debtors have filed Chapter 13 cases. Under 11 U.S.C. § 1328(a), the discharge in a Chapter 13 case is entered “as soon as practicable after completion by the debtor of all payments under the plan” or is entered when the court, after notice and a
hearing, grants the debtor a “hardship” discharge under 11 U.S.C. § 1328(b).
These debtors have not received discharges in their Chapter 13 cases. No one of these debtors “has obtained a discharge” or can “submit a discharge” for purposes of TFRA.
A literal interpretation of the words in TFRA leads to troublesome results. Under Tennessee law, a driver is entitled to only 20 days’ notice before license revocation under TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-105(c) (1980 ed. & Supp.1986). It is difficult to conceive of facts where a Chapter 13 debt- or could accomplish the filing, confirmation and consummation of a plan in time to obtain or submit a discharge to avoid license revocation. It would be the rarest happenstance that the timing of the accident, the action by the Department to revoke the debtor’s driver’s license, the filing of the bankruptcy case and the entry of a discharge would coincide to permit a Chapter 13 debtor to comply with TFRA.
It is conceivable that TFRA was designed without focus on the special problems of Chapter 13 debtors. If the Department or the Tennessee courts were to interpret TFRA to exclude Chapter 13 debtors from avoidance of license revocation under § 55-12-106(15) or from reinstatement pri- or to actual entry of a discharge under § 55-12-108, interesting questions of conflict with 11 U.S.C. § 525 would be presented which are not raised by these parties.
The Department of Safety has not argued that these debtors’ licenses were revoked for reasons other than non-payment of the $65 restoration fee. It has never been the Department’s position that the debtors were ineligible for revocation avoidance or license reinstatement because entry of discharge is delayed in Chapter 13 cases. Rather, it seems to be the Department’s position that it is appropriate to interpret TFRA, and in particular §§ 55-12-106(15) and 55-12-106(6), (8), to apply to Chapter 13 debtors who have scheduled a dischargeable debt resulting from an automobile accident and for whom a discharge is available when administration of the case is complete.
The debtors in these consolidated cases fall into two classes. Only debtor Norton
attempted to avoid license revocation under § 55-12-106(15). Norton’s effort to avoid revocation failed only because he did not pay the $65 restoration fee. The other six debtors each experienced revocation and then attempted to reinstate driving privileges under TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-108(a)(6), (8). These six debtors were denied license restoration only because they did not pay the $65 restoration fee.
IV.
11 U.S.C. § 525 in its 1978 form intended to codify the Supreme Court’s holding in
Perez v. Campbell,
402 U.S. 637, 91 S.Ct. 1704, 29 L.Ed.2d 233 (1971). In pertinent part, § 525 reads:
[A] governmental unit may not ... revoke ... a license ... to ... a person that is ... a debtor under this title ... solely because such ... debtor is ... a debtor under this title ... or ... [such debtor] has been insolvent ... during the case but before the debtor is granted or denied a discharge or [such debtor] has not paid a debt that is dischargeable in the case.
11 U.S.C. § 525(a) (1982 ed. & Supp. Ill 1986). In
Perez,
an uninsured driver sought bankruptcy relief from an auto accident judgment. Arizona law provided that a discharge in bankruptcy left unaffected a driver’s obligation to satisfy an automobile accident judgment. Before debtor was granted a discharge, the state revoked his driver’s license. The Supreme Court found the Arizona statute in conflict with the Bankruptcy Code’s fresh start policy. The
Perez
court left unanswered the question whether “a State may require proof of financial responsibility as a precondition for granting driving privileges.” 402 U.S. at 643-44, 91 S.Ct. at 1708-09, 29 L.Ed.2d at 238.
The Sixth Circuit interpreted 11 U.S.C. § 525(a) and addressed the question reserved in
Perez
in
Duffey v. Dollison,
734 F.2d 265 (6th Cir.1984). The Ohio Financial Responsibility Act required all persons, including bankruptcy debtors, to submit proof of financial responsibility to reinstate a driver’s license after an auto accident. The
Duffey
court found that the Ohio scheme satisfied
Perez
because it applied to all individuals involved in automobile accidents, including debtors in bankruptcy, and thus was non-discriminatory in effect. The Sixth Circuit held that financial responsibility requirements do not violate § 525 “so long as they are not discriminatorily applied to bankrupts.” 734 F.2d at 272-73.
See Holder v. Wisconsin Dep’t of Transp.,
40 B.R. 847 (Bankr.E.D.Wis.1984) (requiring proof of financial responsibility from bankruptcy debtors who discharge judgment and judgment debtors who satisfy judgment held non-discriminatory).
Duffey
validates the provisions in TFRA for reinstatement of a debtor's driver’s license. TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-108 imposes, a $65 fee on all who seek license reinstatement after an accident. The $65 fee is not discriminatorily applied — a bankruptcy debtor who qualifies for reinstatement by scheduling the accident claim as a dischargeable debt is treated the same as a non-bankruptcy debtor who satisfies in some other way damages resulting from an accident. The “penalty” imposed by the State on those who lose their driver’s license after an accident is imposed uniformly and without special effects on debtors in bankruptcy. These debtors’ challenge to payment of the $65 fee for license reinstatement fails the
Duffey
test.
The provisions of TFRA permitting bankruptcy debtors to avoid license revocation in the first instance are not saved from conflict with § 525 by
Duffey.
Under TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-106(15), a debtor may avoid revocation by obtaining a discharge of all claims arising out of an accident, and paying a “$65 restoration fee.” The subsection concerning debtors in bankruptcy is the only exception to revocation under § 55-12-106 that imposes the (anomalous) $65 “restoration fee.” Section 55-12-106(15) was amended in 1986. The former subsection (15) read as follows:
Any person who has obtained a discharge in bankruptcy that discharged all claims against the person because of the accident listed in the petition. If a true
copy of the discharge is submitted to the commissioner after the final date of revocation, it shall not relieve the person from the requirements of giving and maintaining proof of financial responsibility as required by § 55-12-126 and such person must pay a fifty dollar ($50.00) restoration fee and pass the driver license examination.
TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-106(15) (1980 & Supp.1986).
Under the former statute, a debtor in bankruptcy who acted timely could avoid license revocation without payment of a monetary “restoration fee.” The $65 fee imposed on bankruptcy debtors by the 1986 amendments was not also imposed on others who avoid license revocation under the first 14 subsections of § 55-12-106.
There is no legislative history to illumi-. nate the 1986 amendment of § 55-12-106(15). The legislative committee considering the 1986 amendments did address the benefit of having TFRA pay for itself. This purposes is stated in TFRA:
Fees paid pursuant to this chapter shall be expendable receipts to be used only by the commissioner towards the cost of administering the provisions of this chapter.
TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-129 (1980 & Supp.1986). There is no legislative explanation why the $65 “restoration” fee was imposed upon pre-revocation bankruptcy debtors and not upon others eligible for avoidance of revocation.
Financial Responsibility Act: Hearing on H.R. 1172 Before the House Transportation Committee,
94th General Assembly, 2d Sess. (Feb. 4, 1986).
Whether § 55-12-106(15) of TFRA is in conflict with 11 U.S.C. § 525(a) requires examination of the purpose and effect of the state act.
See Henry v. Heyison,
4 B.R. 437 (E.D.Pa.1980);
Lee v. Board of Higher Education,
1 B.R. 781 (S.D.N.Y.1979);
Rutledge v. City of Shreveport,
387 F.Supp. 1277 (W.D.La.1975);
Marine Elec. Ry. Prods. Div., Inc. v. New York City Transit Auth. (In re Marine Elec. Ry. Prods. Div., Inc.),
17 B.R. 845 (Bankr.E.D.N.Y.1982). That TFRA would be self-funding is laudable and not facially discriminatory within the meaning of 11 U.S.C. § 525(a). However, the effect of the 1986 amendment to § 55-12-106(15) is discriminatory against debtors in bankruptcy. Section 55-12-106(15) now penalizes individuals who are excepted from license revocation by reason of bankruptcy in contrast to all other similarly situated individuals. This is not the non-discriminatory application of a condition for licensing described in
Duffey.
Debtor Norton attempted to avoid license revocation by satisfying all statutory conditions other than payment of the $65 fee. 11 U.S.C. § 525(a) invalidates that portion of TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-106(15) which required Norton to pay $65 to avoid license revocation.
V.
Debtors’ claim that revocation of their drivers’ licenses after the filing of these bankruptcy cases violated the automatic stay is refuted by 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(4) (1980 ed. & Supp. Ill 1986). The filing of a bankruptcy petition does not stay “the commencement or continuation of an action or proceeding by a governmental unit to enforce such governmental unit’s police or regulatory power.” 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(4) (1980 ed. & Supp. Ill 1986). Revocation of drivers’ licenses by the Department under TFRA, absent proof of contrary purpose or effect, is enforcement of the State’s regulatory power within the quoted exception to the automatic stay.
See Smith v. Pennsylvania Dep’t of Transp.,
58 B.R. 78, 80 (Bankr.E.D.Pa.1986),
rev’d on other grounds,
66 B.R. 244 (E.D.Pa.1986).
An appropriate order will be entered.
ORDER
For the reasons stated in the memorandum filed contemporaneously herewith, IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED that § 55-12-106(15) of the Tennessee Financial Responsibility Act discrim-
mates against debtors in bankruptcy in violation of 11 U.S.C. § 525(a).
IT IS SO ORDERED.