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.