SRC-DBM H.B. 865 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 865 76R4185 WP-DBy: Puente (Nelson) Jurisprudence 5/7/1999 Engrossed DIGEST The Department of Public Safety reported 181,773 incidents of family violence in Texas in 1997. The number has risen 32 percent since 1991 according to the Texas Council on Family Violence. Some victims seeking to elude their abuser and to reduce the risk of further violence choose to establish a new identity. As part of this effort, it may be helpful to obtain a new driver's license or personal identification certificate. On the federal level, the Social Security Administration allows a victim of domestic violence to change his or her social security number upon the individual's written affirmation of the domestic abuse, supported by a third-party affidavit from sources such as the police, medical professionals, or locally-recognized battered victims' shelters. H.B. 865 would regulate the change of a driver's license or personal identification certificate number of a victim of domestic violence. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 865 regulates the change of a driver's license or personal identification certificate number of a victim of domestic violence. 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 the subchapter heading to Chapter 521M, Transportation Code, as follows: SUBCHAPTER M. New heading: LICENSE EXPIRATION, RENEWAL, AND NUMBER CHANGE SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 521M, Transportation Code, by adding Section 521.275, as follows: Sec. 521.275. CHANGE OF DRIVER'S LICENSE OR PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION CERTIFICATE NUMBER. Requires the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas (department) to issue to a person a new driver's license number or personal identification certificate number on the person's showing a court order stating that the person has been the victim of domestic violence. Authorizes the department to require each applicant to furnish the information required by Section 521.142. Authorizes the department to require evidence identifying the applicant by both the former and new name, if the applicant's name has changed. Sets forth certain prohibited disclosures of the department, except as provided by Sections 521.049(c), 730.005, and 730.006. SECTION 3.Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4.Emergency clause.