SRC-MAX S.B. 602 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 602 By: Armbrister State Affairs 2-26-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, a driver's license or personal identification certificate expires on the first birthday of the license or certificate holder occurring after the fourth anniversary of the date of the application. Modern technology has virtually eliminated the need for regularly updated driver's licenses. For example, the Texas Department to Public Safety now uses computers to verify the validity of each license issued. This bill provides for the issuance of extended driver's licenses. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 602 amends the period of validity of and fees for a driver's license or personal identification certificate. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 521.271, Transportation Code, as follows: Sec. 521.271. New heading: LICENSE AND PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION CERTIFICATE EXPIRATION. Provides that each original driver's license, personal identification certificate, and provisional license expires on the 60th birthday of the license or certificate holder, rather than on the first birthday occurring after the fourth anniversary of the date of the application, among other provisions. Requires the Department of Public Safety (department) to reissue the license or certificate of a holder who is under 60 years of age without charge at 12-year intervals to include changes in the pertinent information shown on the license or certificate. Provides that this subsection does not affect the right of the person to obtain a duplicate or corrected license or certificate at another time or the obligation of the person to pay the fee required for a duplicate license or certificate obtained at another time. SECTION 2. Amends Section 521.421, Transportation Code, as follows: Sec. 521.421. New heading: LICENSE AND CERTIFICATE FEES; EXAMINATION FEES. Provides that the fee for issuance, rather than issuance or renewal, of a license, or personal identification certificate not otherwise provided for by this section is a certain amount. Provides that the fee for renewal of a license, rather than a Class M license, not otherwise provided for by this section is $16, rather than $21. SECTION 3. Amends Section 521.421, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (f), to require the department to provide, on request of the applicant, for payment in installments over a period of one year of a fee by prescribed Subsection (a). SECTION 4. Amends Section 521.422, Transportation Code, as follows: Sec. 521.422. New heading: PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION CERTIFICATE RENEWAL FEE. Deletes a provision providing that the fee for a renewal of a personal identification certificate is $10 for a person under 65 years of age. Provides that the fee for a renewal of a personal identification certificate is $5 for a person 60, rather than 65, years of age or older. SECTION 5. Amends Section 521.123, Transportation Code, to require the department to remove an "UNDER 21" indication from the holder's license without charge on request of a license holder who is at least 21 years of age. SECTION 6. Amends Section 521.101(f), Transportation Code, to delete text that provides that a certificate expires on a date specified by the department. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 7. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 8. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 9. Emergency clause.