C.S.H.B. 1330 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1330 By: McReynolds Law Enforcement Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, the Department of Public Safety is required to include certain medical and emergency information on a Texas driver's license. However, a license holder does not have the opportunity on the licence to voluntarily alert a peace officer of significant medical information that would assist in the communication between a peace officer and the license holder. C.S.H.B. 1330 allows applicants to voluntarily list any pertinent medical information on a driver's license which is documented by a physician and can assist in the communication between a peace officer and the license holder. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, institution, or agency. ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1330 amends Section 521.142 of the Transportation Code by adding Subsection (h), which states that the application for a driver's license must provide space for the applicant to voluntarily list any health condition that may impede communication with a peace officer as evidenced by a written statement from a licensed physician. The bill amends Subsection (f) by providing that the subsection, which states that information supplied to the department relating to an applicant's medical history is confidential, does not apply to information provided under Subsection (h). Under this bill, the Department of Public Safety is required to print, if space allows, any information provided by the license holder under Section 521.142 (h) on the reverse side of the driver's license. The Department of Public Safety is required to indicate, if space allows, any medical information by a uniform symbol or code on the face of the license where the department indicates a restriction or endorsement. EFFECTIVE DATE This Act takes effect January 1, 2004. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 1330 modifies the original by requiring the Department of Public Safety to print pertinent medical information on a driver's license and indicate the information by a uniform symbol if space allows. The original required the printing and indication of medical information, regardless of space considerations. The substitute also provides that Subsection (f) of Section 521.142, Transportation Code, which states that information supplied to the department relating to an applicant's medical history is confidential, does not apply to information provided under Subsection (h).