By: Zaffirini  S.B. No. 656
         (In the Senate - Filed January 27, 2023; February 17, 2023,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation;
  March 15, 2023, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0; March 15, 2023,
  sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 656 By:  West
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to an optional health condition or disability designation
  on a driver's license or personal identification certificate.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 521.060(a) and (c), Transportation
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The department shall maintain in its files a record of
  the name, address, and telephone number of each individual
  identified by the holder of a driver's license or personal
  identification certificate as an individual the holder authorizes
  to be contacted in the event that the holder is injured or dies in or
  as a result of a vehicular accident or another emergency situation.  
  In addition, the department shall maintain in its files a record of
  any medical information described by Section 521.125(a) that is
  provided to the department under Subsection (c) or any health
  condition information that is voluntarily provided to the
  department under Sections 521.1251 and [Section] 521.142(h).
         (c)  An application for an original, renewal, or duplicate
  driver's license or personal identification certificate must:
               (1)  be designed to allow, but not require, the
  applicant to provide:
                     (A)  the name, address, and telephone number of
  not more than two individuals to be contacted if the applicant is
  injured or dies in a circumstance described by Subsection (a); and
                     (B)  in addition to health condition information
  voluntarily provided under Sections 521.1251 and [Section]
  521.142(h), medical information described by Section 521.125(a);
  and
               (2)  include a statement that:
                     (A)  describes the confidential nature of the
  information; and
                     (B)  states that by providing the department with
  the information, the applicant consents to the limited disclosure
  and use of the information.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter F, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 521.1251 to read as follows:
         Sec. 521.1251.  OPTIONAL HEALTH CONDITION OR DISABILITY
  DESIGNATION. (a)  The department shall provide to each applicant
  for the issuance of an original, renewal, corrected, or duplicate
  driver's license or personal identification certificate who
  applies in person the opportunity to voluntarily indicate on a
  driver's license or personal identification certificate that the
  person has a health condition or disability that may impede
  effective communication with a peace officer. The department may
  request from a person who makes an indication under this subsection
  verification of a condition in the form of a written statement from
  a licensed physician, including a psychiatrist.
         (b)  The department shall include a designation that
  indicates the person has a health condition or disability that may
  impede effective communication with a peace officer on each
  driver's license or personal identification certificate issued to a
  person who:
               (1)  makes an election under this section; and
               (2)  provides sufficient evidence under Subsection (a)
  to qualify for the designation.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
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