By Green H.B. No. 1762
77R6248 JD-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the issuance of certain driver's licenses by the
1-3 Department of Public Safety and the provision of driver record
1-4 information by the department and to fees and charges collected by
1-5 the department.
1-6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-7 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, is
1-8 amended by adding Section 521.0485 to read as follows:
1-9 Sec. 521.0485. REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION BY MAIL OR
1-10 ELECTRONIC MEANS. (a) The department by rule may provide that the
1-11 holder of a driver's license issued by the department may submit a
1-12 request for information under Sections 521.045-521.048 by mail, by
1-13 telephone, over the Internet, or by other electronic means.
1-14 (b) A rule adopted under Subsection (a):
1-15 (1) may prescribe eligibility standards for release of
1-16 the requested information; and
1-17 (2) may not conflict with any provision of this
1-18 chapter or another law that relates to the release of the
1-19 information by the department.
1-20 SECTION 2. Section 521.146, Transportation Code, is amended
1-21 by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (c) and (d) to
1-22 read as follows:
1-23 (b) An applicant for a [duplicate or] corrected driver's
1-24 license or certificate must submit to the department the required
2-1 fee, accompanied by[:]
2-2 [(1) proof satisfactory to the department that the
2-3 driver's license or certificate was lost or destroyed; or]
2-4 [(2)] the required information that has changed with
2-5 proof satisfactory to the department that supports the change.
2-6 (c) The department by rule may provide that the holder of a
2-7 driver's license issued by the department may apply for the
2-8 issuance of a duplicate license by mail, by telephone, over the
2-9 Internet, or by other electronic means.
2-10 (d) A rule adopted under Subsection (c) may prescribe
2-11 eligibility standards for issuance of a duplicate driver's license
2-12 under this section.
2-13 SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
2-14 amended by adding Section 411.0135 to read as follows:
2-15 Sec. 411.0135. METHOD OF PAYMENT OF FEES AND CHARGES. (a)
2-16 The department may adopt rules regarding the method of payment of
2-17 any fee or charge that is imposed or collected by the department.
2-18 (b) Rules adopted under Subsection (a) may authorize
2-19 payment, under circumstances prescribed by the department:
2-20 (1) in person, by mail, by telephone, or over the
2-21 Internet;
2-22 (2) by means of electronic funds transfer; or
2-23 (3) by means of a valid credit card issued by a
2-24 financial institution chartered by a state or the federal
2-25 government or by a nationally recognized credit organization
2-26 approved by the department.
2-27 (c) The department by rule may require, in addition to the
3-1 amount of the fee or charge, the payment of:
3-2 (1) a discount, convenience, or service charge for a
3-3 payment transaction; or
3-4 (2) a service charge in connection with the payment of
3-5 a payment transaction that is dishonored or refused for lack of
3-6 funds or insufficient funds.
3-7 SECTION 4. Section 521.427, Transportation Code, is repealed.
3-8 SECTION 5. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
3-9 (b) The repeal by this Act of Section 521.427,
3-10 Transportation Code, does not affect the continuing validity of a
3-11 rule adopted by the Department of Public Safety under that section,
3-12 regardless of the date of adoption. A rule adopted by the
3-13 Department of Public Safety under that section continues in effect
3-14 unless the rule is amended, repealed, or rescinded by the
3-15 department.