BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 815

By: Kuempel

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that requiring photo identification to file certain documents with a county clerk helps to deter fraudulent filings. H.B. 815 authorizes a county clerk to require a person presenting a document in person for filing in the real property records of the county to present a photo identification to the clerk regardless of the county's population.

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. 815 amends the Local Government Code to authorize a county clerk to require a person presenting a document in person for filing in the real property records of the county to present a photo identification to the clerk regardless of the county's population by removing the minimum population threshold.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.