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).