BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3050

By: King, Phil

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that a number of issues relating to driver's and learner licenses, including requiring the photograph on a Texas driver's license or identification card to be in color, inhibit the ability to implement new technology aimed at strengthening the security and integrity of the issued card. These parties also note a need to address certain information on the driver's license for peace officers. H.B. 3050 seeks to provide the flexibility necessary to utilize the most relevant technology by removing the requirement for such a photograph to be in color and by updating certain other provisions relating to driver's and learner licenses.

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. 3050 amends the Transportation Code to redesignate as a learner license an instruction permit issued by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to a person who is 15 years of age or older but under 18 years of age who meets certain other permit eligibility requirements. The bill replaces references to an instruction permit with references to a learner license in applicable statutory provisions relating to driver's licenses and certificates. The bill repeals provisions authorizing DPS to issue an instruction permit or learner license to a person 18 years of age or older who meets certain other permit or license eligibility requirements.

H.B. 3050 changes from magnetic tape to a format prescribed by DPS and acceptable to a purchaser of certain driver's license information the method by which DPS provides that information to the purchaser. The bill removes the specification that the required photograph on a driver's license of the entire face of the license holder be a color photograph. The bill includes a special investigator, as defined by the Code of Criminal Procedure, in the meaning of "peace officer" for purposes of statutory provisions authorizing the issuance of a driver's license for peace officers. The bill includes an address that is in the county of a peace officer's employment and acceptable to DPS among the alternative addresses that may be included on the driver's license of a peace officer as an alternative to the license holder's actual residence address. The bill repeals the prohibition on marking as certified the information in an abstract of a complete driving record when that information is provided through the DPS system allowing interactive access to certain driver's license record information.

H.B. 3050 repeals the following provisions of the Transportation Code:

· Section 521.0475 (c)

· Sections 521.222 (b), (c), and (e)

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.