HBA-CMT, LJP H.B. 358 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 358
By: Wise
Public Safety
4/6/2001
Introduced


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, all applications for a Texas driver's license must state
the applicant's full name, and place and date of birth and must be verified
by presentation of proof of identity satisfactory to the Department of
Public Safety (DPS).  DPS sometimes requests that social security cards be
presented, because DPS uses social security numbers to track applicants who
owe child support.  However, some applicants may not be eligible for a
social security number.  House Bill 358 provides a list of acceptable
alternatives or documents that DPS may use in lieu of social security card
numbers to help applicants obtain a valid drivers 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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 358 amends the Family Code to provide an exception to the
requirement that a licensing authority request and an applicant for a
license provide the applicant's social security number for the purpose of
assisting in the administration of laws relating to child support
enforcement. The bill provides that an application for a driver's license
may be accompanied by the applicant's social security number, an SSA L-676
letter from the Social Security Administration stating that the applicant
is ineligible to obtain a social security number, a temporary
identification number issued to the applicant by the Internal Revenue
Service, or a notarized affidavit from the applicant stating that the
applicant has not been issued any of these documents.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.