SRC-AMY C.S.H.B. 479 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 479 By: Hunter (Armbrister) Infrastructure Development and Security 5-22-2003 Committee Report (Substituted) 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. C.S.H.B. 479 requires DPS to present any male applicant for a driver's license or personal identification certificate who is between the ages of 18 and 26 a notice regarding selective service registration, to which the applicant must respond before the application process goes forward. This bill also requires DPS to forward the pertinent information of those not refusing to register to the Selective Service system. C.S.H.B. 479 also requires related notices in Spanish and English to be posted where applications for driver's licenses and personal identification certificates are accepted. 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 an application for an original, renewal, or duplicate driver's license or personal identification certificate to be 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 include a certain notice. (b) Requires the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to present the notice to each applicant to which this section applies and record the applicant's response. Provides that a response is required to complete the application for a license or certificate for such an applicant. Requires DPS to forward to the Selective Service System, in an electronic format, the information necessary for registration of an applicant not declining to register. Deletes text referring to DPS developing a selective service consent statement and related duties. (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.