BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1078

By: Oliverson

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There have been calls to provide financial incentives for individuals to become certified in CPR to increase the number of Texans who are able to administer this lifesaving treatment. C.S.H.B. 1078 seeks to do so by waiving fees for the issuance of a driver's license or handgun license for certain applicants who hold a current CPR certification.

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

C.S.H.B. 1078 amends the Government Code to require the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to waive any fee required for the issuance of an original or renewed handgun license if at the time of the application the applicant for the license submits to DPS satisfactory evidence that the applicant holds a current certification in CPR issued by the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, or another nationally recognized association that the applicant is not required to hold as a condition of obtaining or maintaining employment or an occupational license.

C.S.H.B. 1078 amends the Transportation Code to exempt a person who submits that evidence to DPS at the time of the application for an original or renewal driver's license from the payment of any fee for the issuance of the license.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 1078 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute excludes a person required to hold a CPR certification as a condition of obtaining or maintaining employment or an occupational license from the CPR certification holders exempt from the payment of handgun or driver's license fees. The substitute includes a definition for "occupational license."