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.