By: Thompson of Brazoria H.B. No. 2025

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to legislative oversight of certain licensing programs administered by agencies of this state.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 521, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subchapter T, and a heading is added to that subchapter to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER T. LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT

SECTION 2. Subchapter T, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, as added by this Act, is amended by adding Section 521.501 to read as follows:

Sec. 521.501. JOINT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON THE DRIVER'S LICENSE PROGRAM. (a) In this section:

(1) "committee" means the Joint Oversight Committee on the Driver's License Program.

(2) "licensing program" means:

(A) the programs established by Chapters 521 and 522, Transportation Code, and other law, that license a person to operate in this state a motor vehicle, as defined by Section 501.002, Transportation Code, or a commercial motor vehicle, as defined by Section 522.003, Transportation Code;

(B) the program to issue election identification certificates under Chapter 521A, Transportation Code; and

(C) the voter registration processes under the Election Code that relate to the original issuance or renewal of a driver's license or personal identification card.

(b) The committee is created to review the administration and implementation of the licensing program as administered by agencies of this state. The committee shall review plans and receive updates from state and local governmental entities involved with the administration of the licensing program as required by law.

(c) The committee is composed of eight members as follows:

(1) four members of the senate appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

(2) four members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(d) The chair of the committee shall alternate biannually between:

(1) a member of the senate appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

(2) a member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(e) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the first chair of the committee.

(f) A vacancy on the committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(g) The committee biannually shall provide a written report to the legislature that identifies:

(1) amounts appropriated and expended for the licensing program for a time period to be determined by the committee;

(2) current technological and operational deficiencies within the licensing program as determined by the committee;

(3) information relating to the amount of time currently required for a customer to interact with the licensing program; and

(4) recommendations relating to the improvement and optimization of the licensing program for the consideration of the legislature, including recommendations relating to funding and any timelines necessary to implement the recommendations of the committee, as applicable.

(h) The committee shall:

(1) have the powers and duties of a joint committee created by proclamation; and

(2) obtain funding in the same manner as a joint committee created by proclamation.

(i) The rules adopted by the Legislature for the administration of joint committees created by proclamation apply to the committee to the extent the rules are consistent with this section.

(j) The committee is abolished and this section expires on September 1, 2029.

SECTION 3. (a) If this Act receives the votes necessary for immediate effect, the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives shall make appointments to the Joint Oversight Committee on the Driver's License Program not later than July 1, 2019.

(b) If this Act does not receive the votes necessary for immediate effect, the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives shall make appointments to the Joint Oversight Committee on the Driver's License Program not later than September 31, 2019.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2019.