BILL ANALYSIS
|
Senate Research Center |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
State agencies spend significant sums on various types of mailings. Any savings in mailing costs reduces the cost of state operations to the taxpayer. Incorrect or incomplete addresses in state agency databases can result in undelivered mail, extended delivery times, and lost revenue. The United States Postal Service has adopted standards for address correction software to increase the accuracy of addressing. Mail that is prepared in compliance with these standards typically qualifies for discounted postal rates from the postal service. While appraisal districts may use driver's license record information in granting homestead exemptions, the results of a recent test revealed that the driver's license address information could often not be matched to the correct postal service address.
H.B. 266 seeks to take advantage of United States Postal Service discounts that may be available and increase the accuracy of mailing addresses in state agency databases by requiring state agencies, if practicable, to use address-matching software that meets certification standards under the Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS) adopted by the United States Postal Service and requiring the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas to ensure that driver's license address records are CASS compliant.
H.B. 266 amends current law relating to the use of address-matching software by certain state agencies.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas in SECTION 2 (Section 521.063, Transportation Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 2176.201, Government Code, as follows:
Sec. 2176.201. USE OF CERTAIN MAIL SERVICES. (a) Creates this subsection from existing text. Authorizes a state agency, notwithstanding another law that requires the use of certain mail services, to use any form of mail service available from the United States Postal Service (USPS) to lower postal costs whenever acceptable levels of accountability, timeliness, security, and quality of service can be maintained.
(b) Requires a state agency, if practicable, to use address-matching software that meets certification standards under the Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS) adopted by USPS or that meets any subsequent standard adopted by USPS to replace CASS standards for preparation of bulk mailings. Requires that the contract, if a state agency contracts with a provider for bulk mailing services, require that the provider use address-matching software that meets or exceeds certification standards under CASS or subsequent standards adopted by USPS.
SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, by adding Section 521.063, as follows:
Sec. 521.063. MAILING ADDRESS VERIFICATION SYSTEM. Requires the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas (DPS) by rule to establish a system to ensure that addresses of driver's license holders are verified and matched to USPS delivery addresses by use of address-matching software. Requires that the software meet certification standards under CASS adopted by USPS or a subsequent standard adopted by USPS to replace CASS standards for preparation of bulk mailings. Requires that the contract, if DPS contracts with a provider for bulk mailing services, require that the provider use address-matching software that meets or exceeds certification standards under CASS or subsequent standards adopted by USPS.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2011.