BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 523
89R4805 GP-D	By: Zaffirini
	State Affairs
	2/13/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Parole officers in Texas are responsible for supervising offenders and frequently testify in revocation hearings. This work often places them at risk of retaliation or harassment from persons under supervision or criminal offenders they have testified against in court. Currently, Texas law allows certain law enforcement officials, such as peace officers, judges, U.S. marshals, and prosecutors, to use a business address on their driver's license and identification cards to protect their residential information. Parole officers, however, are not included in these privacy protections, which leaves them vulnerable.

S.B. 523 would allow parole officers to use a business address on their Texas driver's license or Texas identification card, providing them with the same level of protection that is already afforded to other law enforcement and judicial officials. This change would enhance their personal safety by preventing their home address from being publicly accessible.

As proposed, S.B. 523 amends current law relating to the issuance of a driver's license to certain persons that includes an alternative to the license holder's residence address.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Section 521.1211, Transportation Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 521.1211. DRIVER'S LICENSE FOR PAROLE OFFICERS, PEACE OFFICERS, AND PROSECUTORS.

SECTION 2. Amends Sections 521.1211(a), (a-1), (d), and (f), Transportation Code, as follows:

(a) Defines "parole officer."

(a-1) Provides that this section applies only to a parole officer, a peace officer, and a prosecutor.

(d) Requires the holder of a driver's license that includes an alternative address, if the license holder moves to a new residence, or, for a parole officer or prosecutor, to a new office address, or if the name of the person is changed by marriage or otherwise, not later than the 30th day after the date of the address or name change, to take certain actions.

(f) Requires the Department of Public Safety to accept certain alternative addresses for certain professionals, including for a parole officer, the address of an office of the parole officer. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2025.