By West                                                S.B. No. 293
         77R2949 DWS-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to use of electronically readable information on a
 1-3     driver's license.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 521.126, Transportation Code, is amended
 1-6     to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 521.126.  ELECTRONICALLY READABLE INFORMATION. (a)  The
 1-8     department may not include any information on a driver's license,
 1-9     commercial driver's license, or identification certificate in an
1-10     electronically readable form other than the information printed on
1-11     the license and a physical description of the licensee.
1-12           (b)  The department shall take necessary steps to ensure that
1-13     the information is used only for law enforcement or governmental
1-14     purposes.
1-15           (c)  The department may permit use of the information by a
1-16     seller or lessor of goods or services if the department ensures
1-17     that:
1-18                 (1)  the information is used only for the purpose of
1-19     preventing a specific criminal offense by the seller or lessor or
1-20     by a customer of the seller or lessor; and
1-21                 (2)  the seller or lessor does not retain the
1-22     information after it is no longer needed to prevent that offense.
1-23           (d)  Unauthorized use of the information is a Class A
1-24     misdemeanor.
 2-1           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 2-2     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 2-3     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 2-4     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 2-5     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.