BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1514
82R8874 JXC-D	By: Isaac et al. (Birdwell)
	Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
	5/4/2011
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Many businesses, organizations, and events provide certain benefits to veterans, but the veteran often must present his/her discharge paperwork as proof of military service.  Some veterans have pointed out that it is cumbersome to constantly carry this paperwork with them.  Adding a veteran designation to their driver's license would allow them to more easily provide proof of service.

This bill would allow a veteran to present their DD-124 form at the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas (DPS) when renewing his/her license and have a small endorsement added to the back of the license.  A veteran must have been honorably discharged from the branch of the service in which the person served.

The application for a driver license must provide space for the applicant to voluntarily list any military service that may qualify the applicant to receive a license with a veteran's designation and a space to include proof required by DPS to determine the applicant's eligibility to receive that designation.

H.B. 1514 amends current law relating to the issuance to veterans of specially marked driver's licenses.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, by adding Section 521.1235, as follows:

Sec. 521.1235.  DESIGNATOR ON LICENSE ISSUED TO VETERAN.  (a)  Defines, in this section, "veteran."

(b)  Requires the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas (DPS) to include the designation "VETERAN" on a driver's license issued to a veteran in an available space either on the face of the driver's license or on the reverse side of the driver's license if  the veteran requests the designation, and the veteran provides proof of the veteran's military service and honorable discharge.

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 521.142, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (i), as follows:

(i)  Requires that the application provide space for the applicant to voluntarily list any military service that may qualify the applicant to receive a license with a veteran's designation under Section 521.1235, and to include proof required by DPS to determine the applicant's eligibility to receive that designation.

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2011.