BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1205

By: Nichols

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the lack of death record information sharing among the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) on the death of an individual.  S.B. 1205 seeks to address these concerns by providing for a mechanism by which DSHS provides to DPS death information that includes unique identifiers, including social security numbers, necessary to accurately match death records with driver's license and personal identification certificate records.

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

S.B. 1205 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to implement an efficient and effective method to verify death information to assist the Department of Public Safety (DPS) with maintaining records of holders of driver's licenses and personal identification certificates in Texas. The bill requires DSHS to enter into a memorandum of understanding with DPS to implement this requirement and requires the memorandum of understanding to include a mechanism for DSHS to provide to DPS death information that includes unique identifiers, including social security numbers, necessary to accurately match death records with driver's license and personal identification certificate records.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.