By: Carona S.B. No. 1783
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the use of an offender identification card or similar
  form of identification as proof of identity for an applicant for a
  driver's license or commercial driver's license.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 521.142, Transportation
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  An application for an original license must state the
  applicant's full name and place and date of birth.  This information
  must be verified by presentation of proof of identity satisfactory
  to the department.  The department must accept as satisfactory
  proof of identity under this subsection an offender identification
  card or similar form of identification issued to an inmate by the
  Texas Department of Criminal Justice if the applicant also provides
  supplemental verifiable records or documents that aid in
  establishing identity.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter G, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 521.1421 to read as follows:
         Sec. 521.1421.  INMATE IDENTIFICATION VERIFICATION PILOT
  PROGRAM.  (a)  The department shall participate in an inmate
  identification verification pilot program for the purpose of
  issuing driver's licenses and personal identification certificates
  to inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
         (b)  Under the pilot program, the department may:
               (1)  enter into a contract with the Texas Department of
  Criminal Justice and the Department of State Health Services to
  establish an identification verification process for inmates of the
  Texas Department of Criminal Justice; and
               (2)  issue a driver's license or a personal
  identification certificate to an inmate whose identity has been
  confirmed through the verification process and who otherwise meets
  the requirements for the issuance of the driver's license or
  personal identification certificate.
         (c)  At the conclusion of the pilot program the governing
  bodies of the participating agencies may agree to continue the
  pilot program on a permanent basis.
         (d)  Not later than December 1, 2010, the department and the
  Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall jointly issue a report
  to the standing committees of the legislature with jurisdiction
  over issues related to criminal justice and homeland security
  addressing:
               (1)  the status of the pilot program;
               (2)  the effectiveness of the pilot program; and
               (3)  an analysis of the feasibility of implementing a
  statewide program based on the pilot program.
         SECTION 3.  Subsection (c-1), Section 522.021,
  Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (c-1)  If the department requires proof of an applicant's
  identity as part of an application under this section, the
  department must accept as satisfactory proof of identity an
  offender identification card or similar form of identification
  issued to an inmate by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice if
  the applicant also provides supplemental verifiable records or
  documents that aid in establishing identity.
         SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  an application for a driver's license, commercial driver's license,
  or personal identification certificate submitted on or after the
  effective date of this Act. An application for a driver's license,
  commercial driver's license, or personal identification
  certificate submitted before the effective date of this Act is
  subject to the law in effect on the date the application was
  submitted, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.