By:  West                                                         S.B. No. 250

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the information contained on a driver's license or personal identification certificate. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 521.001, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (7-a) to read as follows: (7-a) "Race or ethnicity" means of a particular descent, including Caucasian, African, Hispanic, Asian, or Native American descent. SECTION 2. Section 521.101, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subsection (j) to read as follows: (j) A personal identification certificate must include the race or ethnicity of the holder. A holder must be informed of the right to elect not to have the holder's race or ethnicity stated on the holder's personal identification certificate. SECTION 3. Subsection (a), Section 521.121, 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) the race or ethnicity of the holder. A holder must be informed of the right to elect not to have the holder's race or ethnicity stated on the holder's driver's license. SECTION 4. Subsection (c), Section 521.142, Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (c) The application must state: (1) the sex of the applicant; (2) the residence address of the applicant; (3) whether the applicant has been licensed to drive a motor vehicle before; (4) if previously licensed, when and by what state or country; (5) whether that license has been suspended or revoked or a license application denied; (6) the date and reason for the suspension, revocation, or denial; (7) whether the applicant is a citizen of the United States; [and] (8) the county of residence of the applicant; and (9) the race or ethnicity of the applicant. The applicant must be informed of the right to elect not to have the applicant's race or ethnicity stated on the application. SECTION 5. This Act applies only to a driver's license or personal identification certificate for which an original or renewal application is submitted on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.