BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3016

By: Fletcher

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties assert that current law lacks clarity with regard to the types of fingerprint information the Department of Public Safety is allowed to collect from a driver's license applicant. H.B. 3016 seeks to address this issue.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 3016 amends the Transportation Code to require an application for an original driver's license to include the applicant's thumbprints and fingerprints and to remove the option for the applicant to provide the applicant's index fingerprints if thumbprints cannot be taken. The bill clarifies the duty of the Department of Public Safety to authenticate thumbprints and fingerprints provided by an applicant for a personal identification certificate, driver's license, or permit using image comparison technology.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.