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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a fee exemption for trafficking victims for certain |
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personal identification documents. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 191, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 191.00495 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 191.00495. BIRTH RECORD ISSUED TO TRAFFICKING VICTIM. |
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(a) In this section, "trafficking victim" has the meaning assigned |
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by Section 521.1813, Transportation Code. |
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(b) On request of a person who is a trafficking victim, the |
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state registrar, a local registrar, or a county clerk shall issue |
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without fee a certified copy of the person's birth record. |
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(c) The state registrar, a local registrar, or a county |
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clerk may require a person to provide only the documentation |
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prescribed by a rule adopted by the Department of Public Safety |
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under Section 521.1813(c), Transportation Code, to confirm a |
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person's status as a trafficking victim. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter I, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 521.1813 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 521.1813. EXEMPTION FOR TRAFFICKING VICTIMS. (a) In |
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this section, "trafficking victim" means a victim of trafficking of |
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persons under Chapter 20A, Penal Code. |
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(b) A person who is a trafficking victim is exempt from the |
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payment of fees under this chapter for the issuance of a driver's |
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license or personal identification certificate, subject to Section |
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521.4265. |
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(c) The department shall adopt rules to implement this |
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section, including rules prescribing any documentation necessary |
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to confirm a person's status as a trafficking victim. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 521.4265(b) and (c), Transportation |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) For each exemption granted under Section 521.1015, [or] |
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521.1811, or 521.1813, the department shall deposit to the credit |
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of the Texas mobility fund an amount from the identification fee |
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exemption account under Subsection (a) that is equal to the amount |
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of the waived fee that would otherwise be deposited to the mobility |
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fund. |
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(c) The department may not grant an exemption under Section |
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521.1015, [or] 521.1811, or 521.1813 if money is not available in |
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the identification fee exemption account to meet the requirements |
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of Subsection (b). |
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SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply to an |
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application for a birth certificate, driver's license, or personal |
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identification certificate submitted on or after the effective date |
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of this Act. An application for a birth certificate, driver's |
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license, or personal identification certificate submitted before |
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the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on |
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the date the application was submitted, and the former law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |