BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

S.B. 164

By: Van de Putte

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

H.B. 1514 was enacted by the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, authorizing a specialized marking to be printed on a veteran's driver's license to provide the veteran with more expedient and convenient access to certain benefits that various businesses, organizations, and events may provide to veterans.  With the marking, the driver's license could be used to prove a veteran's status in lieu of printed discharge papers (DD-214) or various other cumbersome documents.

 

S.B. 164 provides for a special marking of "VETERAN" to be printed upon request on a concealed handgun license or personal identification card to expand the variety of methods through which veterans could prove their status.  A veteran would be required to provide proof of the veteran's military service and honorable discharge.

 

As proposed, S.B. 164 amends current law relating to the issuance to veterans of specially marked licenses to carry a concealed handgun and specially marked personal identification certificates.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas is modified in SECTION 2 (Section 411.179, Government Code) of this bill.

 

ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 411.174, Government Code, by adding Subsection (b-1), to require that the application provide space for the applicant to list any military service that may qualify the applicant to receive a license with a veteran's designation under Section 411.179(e) and include proof required by the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas (DPS) to determine the applicant's eligibility to receive that designation.

 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 411.179, Government Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e), as follows:

 

(a) Adds the designation "VETERAN," if required under Subsection (e), to the list of information required to be included on a license.

 

(e) Defines, in this subsection, "veteran."  Requires DPS to include the designation "VETERAN" on the face of any original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license under this subchapter or on the reverse side of the license, as determined by DPS, if the license is issued to a veteran who requests the designation, and provides proof sufficient to DPS of the veteran's military service and honorable discharge.

 

SECTION 3. Amends Section 521.101, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (1), to require that the application for the personal identification certificate provide space for the applicant to voluntarily list any military service that may qualify the applicant to receive a personal identification certificate with a veteran's designation under Section 521.102, and to include proof required by DPS to determine the applicant's eligibility to receive that designation.

 

SECTION 4. Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, by adding Section 521.102, as follows:

 

Sec. 521.102. DESIGNATOR ON PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION CERTIFICATE ISSUED TO VETERAN. (a) Defines, in this section, "veteran."

 

(b) Requires DPS to include the designation "VETERAN" on a personal identification certificate issued to a veteran in an available space on the face of the personal identification certificate or on the reverse side of the personal identification certificate if the veteran requests the designation, and the veteran provides proof sufficient to DPS of the veteran's military service and honorable discharge.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2013.