SRC-EPT H.B. 874 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 874
78R7535 JRJ-DBy: Menendez (Wentworth)
Infrastructure Development and Security
5/11/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The current Transportation Code requires the driver's license or personal
identification card number of an applicant to be recorded on their
disabled parking placard.  States such as California issue disabled
parking placards without requiring that such personal information be
recorded on the placard, which is ultimately placed in a highly visible
and public area within the person's vehicle.  By publicizing such
information in this public manner, the personal safety of disabled persons
could be jeopardized, subjecting them to identity theft or other abuses. 

H.B. 874 reduces the personal safety risk to the disabled by requiring the
county assessorcollector to record the first four digits of the
applicant's driver's licence number followed by the initials of the
applicant rather than the entire driver's license or personal
identification card number of the applicant on any disabled parking
placard issued to the applicant. 

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 681.0031(b), Transportation Code, to require
the county assessorcollector to record the first four digits of the number
followed by the initials of the applicant on any disabled parking placard
issued to the applicant. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.