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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of an offender identification card or similar |
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form of identification as proof of identity for an applicant for a |
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driver's license or commercial driver's license. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 521.142, Transportation |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) An application for an original license must state the |
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applicant's full name and place and date of birth. This information |
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must be verified by presentation of proof of identity satisfactory |
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to the department. The department must accept as satisfactory |
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proof of identity under this subsection an offender identification |
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card or similar form of identification issued to an inmate by the |
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Texas Department of Criminal Justice if the applicant also provides |
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supplemental verifiable records or documents that aid in |
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establishing identity. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 521.1421 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 521.1421. INMATE IDENTIFICATION VERIFICATION PILOT |
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PROGRAM. (a) The department shall participate in an inmate |
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identification verification pilot program for the purpose of |
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issuing driver's licenses and personal identification certificates |
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to inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. |
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(b) Under the pilot program, the department may: |
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(1) enter into a contract with the Texas Department of |
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Criminal Justice and the Department of State Health Services to |
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establish an identification verification process for inmates of the |
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Texas Department of Criminal Justice; and |
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(2) issue a driver's license or a personal |
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identification certificate to an inmate whose identity has been |
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confirmed through the verification process and who otherwise meets |
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the requirements for the issuance of the driver's license or |
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personal identification certificate. |
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(c) At the conclusion of the pilot program the governing |
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bodies of the participating agencies may agree to continue the |
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pilot program on a permanent basis. |
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(d) Not later than December 1, 2010, the department and the |
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Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall jointly issue a report |
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to the standing committees of the legislature with jurisdiction |
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over issues related to criminal justice and homeland security |
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addressing: |
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(1) the status of the pilot program; |
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(2) the effectiveness of the pilot program; and |
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(3) an analysis of the feasibility of implementing a |
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statewide program based on the pilot program. |
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SECTION 3. Subsection (c-1), Section 522.021, |
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Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(c-1) If the department requires proof of an applicant's |
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identity as part of an application under this section, the |
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department must accept as satisfactory proof of identity an |
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offender identification card or similar form of identification |
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issued to an inmate by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice if |
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the applicant also provides supplemental verifiable records or |
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documents that aid in establishing identity. |
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SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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an application for a driver's license, commercial driver's license, |
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or personal identification certificate submitted on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. An application for a driver's license, |
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commercial driver's license, or personal identification |
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certificate submitted before the effective date of this Act is |
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subject to the law in effect on the date the application was |
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submitted, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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