BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 80

By: Flynn

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, Texas provides an applicant for a driver's license or personal identification certificate the opportunity at the time of application to consent or decline to register with the Selective Service System.  H.B. 80 seeks to require the Department of Public Safety, at the time of an application for a driver's license or personal identification certificate submitted by certain applicants, to send to the United States Selective Service System the information from the application necessary to register the applicant with the Selective Service System. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 80 amends the Transportation Code to require the Department of Public Safety (DPS), after an application for an original, renewal, or duplicate driver's license or personal identification certificate is submitted by a male applicant who on the date of the application is at least 18 years of age but younger than 26 years of age, to send in electronic format to the United States Selective Service System the information from the application necessary to register the applicant under the federal Military Selective Service Act.  The bill requires the application to give written notice to an applicant that the application also constitutes registration with the Selective Service System for persons who are subject to registration and have not previously registered.  The bill requires the notice to be conspicuous on the application and state: "By submitting this application, I am consenting to registration with the United States Selective Service System if my registration is required by federal law."  The bill specifies that the applicant's submission of the application following this notification constitutes the applicant's consent to the sending of the information and the registration.  The bill makes its provisions inapplicable to an applicant concerning whom DPS has previously sent information to the Selective Service System.  The bill removes provisions requiring DPS to develop, by rule, a selective service consent statement to allow certain applicants for a driver's license or personal identification certificate to indicate consent or declination to register with the Selective Service System.  The bill makes conforming changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.