SRC-AMY H.B. 1330 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1330
78R8341 JRJ-DBy: McReynolds (Staples)
Infrastructure Development and Security
5/8/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas law requires the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
to include certain medical and emergency information on a Texas driver's
license.  However, a license holder does not have the opportunity  to
voluntarily alert a peace officer, through the license, of significant
medical information that would assist in the communication between the
two.  H.B. 1330 authorizes an applicant to voluntarily list any pertinent
medical information on a driver's license and requires that information to
be printed on the back of the driver's license, if space allows. 

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 521.125, Transportation Code, as follows:

Sec. 521.125.  MEDICAL AND EMERGENCY INFORMATION ON LICENSE.  (a) Creates
this subsection from existing text.  Includes in the list of required
items to be printed on the back of a driver's license, any medical
information provided by the license holder under Section 521.142(h)
(Application for Original License), if space allows. 

(b) Requires the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), in addition to
the requirements of Subsection (a)(1)(D), if space allows, to indicate any
medical information by a uniform symbol or code on the face of the license
where DPS indicates a restriction or endorsement. 

SECTION 2.  Section 521.142, Transportation Code, by amending Subsection
(f) and adding Subsection (h), as follows: 

(f) Provides that this subsection does not apply to information provided
by an applicant under Subsection (h). 

(h) Requires the application to provide space for the application to
voluntarily list any health condition that may impede communication with a
peace officer as evidenced by a written statement from a licensed
physician. 

SECTION 3.   Effective date: January 1, 2004.