| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the use of the Department of Public Safety image |
|
|
verification system for the purpose of verifying an individual's |
|
|
identity; authorizing a fee. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 521.059(c), Transportation Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(c) The department shall use the image verification system |
|
|
established under this section only to the extent allowed by: |
|
|
(1) Section 521.0591 to verify an individual's |
|
|
identity; and |
|
|
(2) Chapter 730[, Transportation Code,] to aid other |
|
|
law enforcement agencies in: |
|
|
(A) [(1)] establishing the identity of a victim |
|
|
of a disaster or crime that a local law enforcement agency is unable |
|
|
to establish; or |
|
|
(B) [(2)] conducting an investigation of |
|
|
criminal conduct. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, |
|
|
is amended by adding Section 521.0591 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 521.0591. USE OF IMAGE VERIFICATION SYSTEM FOR |
|
|
IDENTITY VERIFICATION. (a) The department may, on request of any |
|
|
person, verify the identity of an individual by comparing a facial |
|
|
image of the individual to facial images contained in the image |
|
|
verification system established under Section 521.059. The |
|
|
department may comply with a request under this section only if the |
|
|
request includes: |
|
|
(1) a facial image and the name of the individual who |
|
|
is the subject of the identity verification request; |
|
|
(2) the written consent of the individual described by |
|
|
Subdivision (1); and |
|
|
(3) the fee described by Subsection (c). |
|
|
(b) The department may refuse to provide an identity |
|
|
verification under this section for any reason. |
|
|
(c) The department by rule shall establish a fee for the |
|
|
submission of an identity verification request under this section |
|
|
in an amount sufficient to cover the costs of the department's |
|
|
compliance with this section, including the direct and indirect |
|
|
costs associated with the department's use of the image |
|
|
verification system. |
|
|
(d) This section does not authorize the disclosure of an |
|
|
image contained in the image verification system established under |
|
|
Section 521.059 to any person. |
|
|
(e) Information submitted to the department as part of an |
|
|
identity verification request under this section, including all |
|
|
images and personal identifying information, is confidential and |
|
|
not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code. |
|
|
(f) The department shall, promptly after conducting an |
|
|
identity verification or refusing to conduct an identity |
|
|
verification under this section, destroy all information submitted |
|
|
as part of the identity verification request. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2025, the Department |
|
|
of Public Safety shall adopt the rules necessary to implement |
|
|
Section 521.0591, Transportation Code, as added by this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |