BILL ANALYSIS
By: Chavez
Border and International Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Under current law, all applications for a Texas driver's license must state the applicant's full name, place and date of birth, and be verified by presentation of proof of identity satisfactory to the Department of Public Safety. Furthermore, all applications must state whether the applicant is a citizen of the United States and the county of residence of the applicant.
If the number of individuals eligible to apply for a license is increased, then several benefits would be available, among them the ability to identify currently unlicensed drivers, the discouragement of flight by unlicensed drivers from traffic accidents, and an increase in the pool of insured drivers thus lowering premiums for all drivers.
House Bill 1561 amends the Transportation Code to require the Department of Public Safety to accept as proof of identification an identity document that is issued by the government of another country.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1 Amends Section 521.142(a), Transportation Code, by requiring the Department of Public Safety to accept as proof of the identity of an applicant for a driver's license an identity document including a passport, consular identity document, or national identity document that is issued by the government of another country, if that document bears the applicant’s photograph, full name, and date of birth and the government of the other country has established reasonable mechanisms by which the department can verify the identity document.
SECTION 2 The Act takes effect September 1, 2005.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005