79R4159 JD-D

By:  Nixon                                                        H.B. No. 1300



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring that a driver's license or personal 
identification certificate issued by the Department of Public 
Safety state whether the holder is a citizen of the United States.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 521.101, Transportation Code, is amended 
by adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:
	(c-1)  The department shall include on the face of a personal 
identification certificate a statement as to whether the holder is 
a citizen of the United States.
	SECTION 2.  Section 521.121(a), Transportation Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The driver's license must include:                                        
		(1)  a distinguishing number assigned by the department 
to the license holder;
		(2)  a color photograph of the entire face of the 
holder;                   
		(3)  the full name, date of birth, and residence 
address of the holder; [and]
		(4)  a brief description of the holder; and                            
		(5)  a statement as to whether the holder is a citizen 
of the United States.
	SECTION 3.  Section 521.142, Transportation Code, is amended 
by adding Subsections (i) and (j) to read as follows:
	(i)  The department shall accept as proof of an applicant's 
United States citizenship any of the following:
		(1)  a driver's license or personal identification 
certificate, or a comparable document, issued by an agency or 
department of another state that states on its face that the holder 
of the driver's license, personal identification certificate, or 
comparable document is a United States citizen;
		(2)  a legible photocopy of the applicant's birth 
certificate that verifies United States citizenship to the 
satisfaction of the department;
		(3)  a valid United States passport issued to the 
applicant or a legible photocopy of the pertinent pages of a valid 
United States passport issued to the applicant that identify the 
applicant and show the passport number;
		(4)  the originals of the applicant's United States 
naturalization documents or the number of the certificate of 
naturalization issued to the applicant; or
		(5)  any other document or method of proof established 
under the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (Pub. 
L. No. 99-603).
	(j)  If under Subsection (i)(4) an applicant provides only 
the number of the applicant's certificate of naturalization, the 
department shall request the United States Citizenship and 
Immigration Services to verify that the certificate of 
naturalization was issued to the applicant.  The department may 
issue a driver's license to the applicant only if the United States 
Citizenship and Immigration Services provides the verification.
	SECTION 4.  (a)  The change in law made by this Act applies 
only to a personal identification certificate or driver's license 
that is applied for on or after September 1, 2005.
	(b)  A personal identification certificate or driver's 
license that was applied for before September 1, 2005, is covered by 
the law in effect on the date of the application, and the former law 
is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.