HBA-CMT H.B. 359 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 359
By: Wise
Public Safety
4/6/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, all applications for a Texas driver's license must state
the applicant's full name, and place and date of birth and must be verified
by presentation of proof of identity satisfactory to the Department of
Public Safety (DPS).  DPS sometimes requests that social security cards be
presented, because DPS uses social security numbers to track applicants who
owe child support.  However, some applicants may not be eligible for a
social security number.  House Bill 359 provides a list of acceptable
alternatives or documents that DPS may use in lieu of social security card
numbers to help applicants obtain a valid drivers license. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Department of Public Safety in
SECTION 1 (Section 521.142, Transportation Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 359 amends the Transportation Code to specify the forms of
identification that are sufficient to prove identity when applying for an
original driver's license.  Sufficient proof of identity is:  

_a driver's license or personal identification certificate issued by this
state;  

 _a valid driver's license or identification document bearing a photograph
of the applicant and issued by another state;  
 
 _a passport or identity card with a photograph of the applicant and issued
by another country or governmental agency of another country;  
 
_a duplicate original birth certificate or a certified copy of a birth
certificate issued by this or another state or by another country
accompanied by documentation required by rules of the Department of Public
Safety; or 

 _any other proof of identity satisfactory to the department.


EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.