BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1890

By: Price

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the difficulty some emergency response personnel face in locating next of kin following an emergency situation. It has been suggested that while a driver's license application allows an applicant to voluntarily provide certain identifying and medical information, many applicants are unaware of this option and therefore fail to provide the information. H.B. 1890 seeks to address this issue by providing driver's license and personal identification certificate holders the ability to update personal information online. 

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. 1890 amends the Transportation Code to require the forms and procedures established and maintained by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) for a holder of a driver's license or personal identification certificate to request that DPS add, amend, or delete emergency contact or medical information in the applicable database to allow the holder or the holder's authorized agent to add, amend, or delete such information by submitting an electronic form on the DPS website. The bill requires DPS, not later than January 1, 2020, to produce and make available the electronic form on its website in accordance with the bill's provisions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.