87R8032 AJZ-D

By: Johnson S.B. No. 1219

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of a limited term driver's license; authorizing fees.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 521, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subchapter K-1 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER K-1. LIMITED TERM DRIVER'S LICENSE

Sec. 521.231. ELIGIBILITY. The department may issue a limited term driver's license, including a learner license or a provisional license, to an applicant who:

(1) as of the date the license is issued, has resided in this state for at least one year;

(2) meets the requirements for the license other than an application requirement described by Section 521.235; and

(3) provides to the department either:

(A) a social security number; or

(B) an individual taxpayer identification number issued by the Internal Revenue Service.

Sec. 521.232. NOT TO BE USED AS IDENTIFICATION FOR FEDERAL OR VOTING PURPOSES. A limited term driver's license issued under this subchapter is not valid as proof of the license holder's identity for any federal purposes or for purposes of voting in any election, including a national, state, or local election.

Sec. 521.233. LIMITED TERM DRIVER'S LICENSE. (a) The department shall:

(1) designate and clearly mark as a limited term driver's license each license issued under this subchapter; and

(2) include on a license issued under this subchapter an indication that the license is not valid proof of identity for any federal or voting purposes.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, the provisions of this chapter and other law applicable to the issuance or renewal of, an applicant or application for, or a holder of a driver's license, including a provisional license or learner license, are applicable to the issuance or renewal of, an applicant or application for, or a holder of a limited term driver's license.

Sec. 521.234. RULES. (a) The department shall adopt rules to implement this subchapter, including rules:

(1) regarding the design and content of the limited term driver's license; and

(2) establishing criteria for proof of identification and residency of an applicant.

(b) Rules establishing criteria for proof of identification must allow an applicant to establish identity through presentation of a foreign birth certificate or unexpired foreign passport that includes a certified translation if the document is not in English.

Sec. 521.235. CERTAIN APPLICATION PROVISIONS INAPPLICABLE. The following provisions do not apply to an application for the issuance or renewal of a limited term driver's license:

(1) notwithstanding Section 521.1425, the requirement in Section 521.142(a) that an applicant who is not a citizen of the United States present to the department documentation that authorizes the applicant to be in the United States; and

(2) Sections 521.142(c)(7) and (g).

Sec. 521.236. EXPIRATION. Notwithstanding Sections 521.271 and 521.2711:

(1) each limited term driver's license issued or renewed under this subchapter expires on the first birthday of the license holder occurring after the date of issuance or renewal; and

(2) each provisional limited term driver's license and limited term learner license issued under this subchapter expires on the 18th birthday of the license holder.

SECTION 2. Section 521.421, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subsections (l) and (m) to read as follows:

(l) Except as provided by Subsection (m), the fee for issuance or renewal of a limited term driver's license is $25.

(m) The fee for issuance of a provisional limited term driver's license or limited term learner license is $16.

SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2022, the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas shall adopt the rules necessary to implement Subchapter K-1, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.