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.