By Jones of Dallas                                    H.B. No. 2543
          Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2543:
          By Edwards                                        C.S.H.B. No. 2543
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to interactive access to driver license records of the
    1-3  Department of Public Safety, creating access to National Driver
    1-4  Register (NDR) records through the Department of Public Safety, and
    1-5  authorizing fees for access to such information.
    1-6        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-7        SECTION 1.  Section 21 of Article 6687b is amended by
    1-8  addition of Subsection (m) to read as follows:
    1-9        (m)  The Department is authorized to establish a system,
   1-10  separate from the Department's mainframe computer, which will allow
   1-11  interactive access to certain driver record information.  Two
   1-12  levels of service are authorized to be provided in this subsection:
   1-13  the status request described in subsection (e) of this Section; and
   1-14  the three-year record as described in subsection (d) of this
   1-15  Section.  The fee for a status check provided through this system
   1-16  will be $2.50.  The fee for a three-year record will be $4.50.
   1-17  Fifty cents ($.50) of each fee collected under this subsection
   1-18  shall be deposited into a fund and is hereby appropriated for use
   1-19  by the Department to administer this Article.  The remainder of
   1-20  fees collected will be disposed of in accordance with Section 15 of
   1-21  this Article.  The department is authorized to contract with one or
   1-22  more private vendors to implement this subsection.  The department
   1-23  is authorized to adopt rules to implement this subsection.
    2-1        SECTION 2.  Section 21 of Article 6687b is amended by
    2-2  addition of Subsection (n) to read as follows:
    2-3        (n)(1)  The Department is authorized to process National
    2-4  Driver Register (NDR) file check requests on behalf of current or
    2-5  prospective employers of individuals employed or seeking employment
    2-6  as motor vehicle or railway locomotive operators, provided the
    2-7  individual has given written consent and is licensed in this state.
    2-8  The Department shall charge a $4.00 fee for each request processed
    2-9  and transmitted to the NDR.  The Department shall forward the NDR
   2-10  response directly to the current or prospective employer.
   2-11              (2)  The Department shall assist and provide procedures
   2-12  for individuals who wish to obtain NDR file check information on
   2-13  themselves.  The Department may by rule establish reasonable fees
   2-14  for such services, in conformity with NDR policies.
   2-15              (3)  The Department may adopt forms and rules necessary
   2-16  to implement this subsection and to comply with NDR policies.
   2-17        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   2-18  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-19  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-20  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three consecutive
   2-21  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   2-22  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   2-23  passage, and it is so enacted.