BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3643

By: Guillen

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The federal REAL ID standards require driver's licenses and identification cards to contain a photograph of the license or card holder as a form of increased security. C.S.H.B. 3643 seeks to repeal the authority of the Department of Public Safety to issue temporary driver's licenses that do not contain a photograph, since these are not REAL ID compliant.

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. 3643 repeals Section 521.124, Transportation Code, which authorizes the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to issue a temporary driver's license without a photograph.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 3643 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

Both the introduced and the substitute repeal the provision authorizing DPS to issue a temporary driver's license without a photograph. However, whereas the introduced amended the Transportation Code to remove a temporary license as a valid form of driver's licensure entirely, the substitute does not.