Honorable John Carona, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation & Homeland Security
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1784 by Carona (Relating to the requirement of citizenship or lawful presence in the United States for issuance of a driver's license, personal identification certificate, commercial driver's license, or commercial driver learner's permit.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Transportation Code, Chapters 521 and 522 which would require the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to maintain suitable indexes, in alphabetical or numerical order that contain the citizenship status of each holder of a license or identification certificate. The bill states DPS shall require applicants for an identification certificate to provide proof of United States citizenship or proof of lawful presence. The bill requires a person who is not a citizen of the United States to present documentation issued by the United States agency responsible for citizenship and immigration authorizing the person to be in the United States before the applicant may be issued a driver’s license or identification card. The bill establishes expiration dates for driver licenses issued to people who are not citizens or legal permanent residents of the United States or a refugee or asylee lawfully admitted into the United States. The bill also establishes fee amounts for various issuances of the license or personal identification certificate issued to applicants who are not citizens of the United States. The bill also repeals Transportation Code, Section 522.029 (j). The bill would take effect on September 1, 2009.
The bill would establish fee amounts for various issuances of the license or personal identification certificate issued to applicants who are not citizens of the United States. The Comptroller of Public Accounts and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) state the number of noncitizens applying for these licenses or certificates is not known, therefore potential revenue estimates cannot be estimated. This analysis assumes that DPS would be able to implement the provisions of the bill with existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.