BILL ANALYSIS |
C.S.H.B. 347 |
By: Canales |
Government Transparency & Operation |
Committee Report (Substituted) |
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Interested parties contend that a digital identification program has the potential to offer greater convenience and security to issuers and holders of Texas driver's licenses and personal identification certificates. C.S.H.B. 347 seeks to create a pilot program for the issuance of digital identification.
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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.
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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.
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ANALYSIS
C.S.H.B. 347 amends the Transportation Code to require the Department of Public Safety (DPS) by rule to establish a pilot program for the issuance of digital identification, including digital driver's licenses and digital personal identification certificates. The bill requires DPS in establishing the program to take the following actions: assess existing DPS infrastructure and identify changes required to implement the program; upgrade DPS infrastructure according to the findings of that assessment; acquire a mobile application that displays digital identification including the general information that appears on a driver's license on a wireless communication device, that includes an authentication and verification process for a wireless communication device, and that may be used in any location regardless of the location's level of wireless connectivity or cellular telephone service; deploy the application at no cost to focus groups for testing and evaluation; and implement a law enforcement version of the application for field testing. The bill prohibits such digital identification from being used or accepted as valid proof of identification. The bill authorizes DPS to contract with a third party to establish the pilot program if the contract is at no cost to DPS.
C.S.H.B. 347 requires DPS to prepare and submit a report containing the results of the pilot program and recommendations to the Public Safety Commission and the legislature not later than the 180th day after the date of the pilot program's completion. The bill requires DPS to adopt the initial rules for the digital identification pilot program not later than February 1, 2018. The bill expires September 1, 2019.
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EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.
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COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE
While C.S.H.B. 347 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.
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