HBA-MPM H.B. 283 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 283
By: Wise
Public Safety
4/20/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Felons are prohibited from owning or handling firearms.  Currently, hunting
licenses may be obtained by electronic means using driver's licenses with
magnetic strips.  H.B. 283 adds felony information to an electronically
readable magnetic strip on each driver's license. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 521.032, as follows: 

Sec. 521.032.  FELONY INFORMATION.  Requires the Department of Public
Safety (department) to include an electronically readable magnetic strip on
each driver's license, including a commercial license, which will indicate
if the license holder has been convicted of a felony, as shown by the
state's criminal history record system as of the date the license is
issued.  Sets forth that for the purposes of this section, "convicted" has
the meaning assigned by Section 411.171, Government Code (Definitions).
Section 411.171 defines "convicted" as an adjudication of guilt or an order
of deferred adjudication entered against a person by a court of competent
jurisdiction whether or not the imposition of the sentence is subsequently
probated and the person is discharged from community supervision; or the
person is pardoned for the offense, unless the pardon is expressly granted
for subsequent proof of innocence. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.