SRC-JLB H.B. 479 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 479
By: Hunter (Arbrister)
Infrastructure Development and Security
4/16/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, males between the ages of 18 and 26 are required to register
with the United States Selective Service System (system).  Male Texans of
this age who apply for a driver's license or personal identification
certificate are presented with a consent statement by the Texas Department
of Public Safety (DPS), on which they can accept or decline to register
with the system.  DPS then forwards to the system, in electronic format,
the responses of those who consent to register.  As proposed, H.B. 479
amends the Transportation Code to automatically register with the system
any male applicant for a driver's license or personal identification
certificate who is between the ages of 18 and 26. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
  
SECTION 1.  Amends Section 521.147, Transportation Code, as follows:
 
Sec. 521.147.  New heading: REGISTRATION WITH SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM.
(a)  Requires the Department of Public Safety (DPS), after an application
for an original, renewal, or duplicate driver's license or personal
identification certificate is submitted by a male applicant who on the
date of the application is at least 18 years of age but younger than 26
years of age, to send in an electronic format to the United States
Selective Service System (system) the information from the application
necessary to register the applicant under the Military Selective Service
Act (50 U.S.C. App. Section 451 et seq.), as amended. 
 
(b)  Requires DPS, before accepting an application from an applicant to
which this section applies, to notify the applicant that the application
for a driver's license or personal identification certificate also
constitutes registration with the system for persons who are subject to
registration and who have not previously registered. Provides that the
applicant's submission of the application following this notification
constitutes the applicant's consent to the sending of the information and
the registration.  Deletes text requiring DPS to develop a certain
selective service consent statement and to perform certain acts. 

(c)  Authorizes DPS, in addition to the notification, rather than
statement, required by Subsection (b), rather than Subsection (a), to
conspicuously post at each location where applications for driver's
licenses and personal identification certificates are accepted one or more
signs, in English and Spanish, providing the information contained in the
notification, rather than statement. 
 
(d)  Provides that this section does not apply to an applicant concerning
whom DPS has previously sent information to the system under Subsection
(a). 
 
SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.  Makes application of this
Act prospective.