By Jones of Dallas                               H.B. No. 972

      75R3085 DRH-F                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to systems for providing access to driver's license record

 1-3     information held by the Department of Public Safety.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,

 1-6     is amended by adding Sections 521.055 and 521.056 to read as

 1-7     follows:

 1-8           Sec. 521.055.  ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERACTIVE SYSTEM.  (a)  The

 1-9     department may establish a system, separate from the department's

1-10     mainframe computer, that will allow interactive access to certain

1-11     driver's license record information.

1-12           (b)  The system may provide for the release of the following

1-13     information:

1-14                 (1)  the status check described in Section 521.045; and

1-15                 (2)  the three-year driving record under Section

1-16     521.046.

1-17           (c)  The fee for a status check under Subsection (b)(1) is

1-18     $2.50.  The fee for a three-year driving record under Subsection

1-19     (b)(2) is $4.50.

1-20           (d)  Fifty cents of each fee collected under Subsection (c)

1-21     shall be deposited in a special account in the general revenue fund

1-22     that may be appropriated only to the department for administration

1-23     of this chapter.

1-24           (e)  The department may contract with private vendors as

 2-1     necessary to implement this section.

 2-2           (f)  The department may adopt rules as necessary to

 2-3     administer this section.

 2-4           Sec. 521.056.  NATIONAL DRIVER REGISTER.  (a)  The department

 2-5     may process file check requests under the National Driver Register

 2-6     on behalf of current or prospective employers of individuals

 2-7     employed or seeking employment as operators of motor vehicles or

 2-8     railway locomotive operators if the individual:

 2-9                 (1)  has given written consent to the release of the

2-10     information; and

2-11                 (2)  has a license in this state.

2-12           (b)  The fee for a request under Subsection (a) is $4.

2-13           (c)  The department shall forward a request made under

2-14     Subsection (a) directly to the current or prospective employer.

2-15           (d)  The department shall assist and provide procedures for

2-16     an individual to obtain information from the National Driver

2-17     Register on the individual's own driving record.  The department

2-18     may by rule establish a reasonable fee for this service, in

2-19     conformity with the policies of the National Driver Register.

2-20           (e)  The department may adopt forms and rules as necessary to

2-21     carry out the purposes of this section and comply with the policies

2-22     of the National Driver Register.

2-23           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-24     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-25     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-26     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-27     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

 3-1     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

 3-2     passage, and it is so enacted.