BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2008

By: Taylor, Van

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) does not have the statutory authority to contract with certain county officers for the purpose of issuing renewal or duplicate driver's licenses. Interested parties note that providing DPS the authority to enter into agreements with these local officers for the provision of certain services relating to the renewal of or issuance of duplicate driver's licenses, personal identification certificates, and election identification certificates, such as taking photographs, administering vision tests, updating basic information, and collecting fees, could help take the burden off DPS and make the process for issuing and renewing such identification documents more efficient for all parties involved. In an effort to address this issue, H.B. 2008 authorizes DPS to contract with specified county officers to train certain county employees to provide services relating to the issuance of renewal and duplicate driver's licenses, election identification certificates, and personal identification certificates.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Department of Public Safety in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2008 amends the Transportation Code to authorize the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to enter into an agreement with a county clerk or county assessor-collector to train county clerk or county assessor-collector employees, as applicable, to provide services at county offices relating to the issuance of renewal and duplicate driver's licenses, election identification certificates, and personal identification certificates, including the following services: taking photographs; administering vision tests; updating those documents to change a name, address, or photo; distributing and collecting information relating to organ donations; collecting fees; and other basic ministerial functions and tasks necessary to issue renewal and duplicate documents.  The bill prohibits such an agreement from including training to administer an examination for driver's license applicants and requires a participating county clerk or county assessor-collector to remit the fees collected for the issuance of a renewal or duplicate driver's license or personal identification certificate to DPS for deposit as required by statutory provisions relating to driver's licenses and certificates. The bill requires DPS to adopt rules to administer the bill's provisions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.