HBA-DMD H.B. 1831 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1831 By: Turner, Bob Public Safety 3/23/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the Department of Public Safety (department) provides a three-year driver's license report to qualified persons. Using these reports, insurance companies set driver premiums based on information that the department provides concerning a particular driver. If an insurance company is unaware of an individual's driving habits it is unable to assess the proper premium. H.B. 1831 requires the department to enter into contracts to provide the contracting party with information that is authorized to be released and to provide a 30-day report on traffic law convictions and accidents involving certain drivers about whom the contracting party requests information. The bill also sets a monthly fee for providing the information and establishes a payment process. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, by adding Section 521.0465, as follows: Sec. 521.0465. CONTRACTS FOR DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN ACCIDENT AND CONVICTION INFORMATION. (a) Requires the Department of Public Safety (department) to enter into contracts to provide the other contracting party with information that is authorized to be released under Sections 521.045 (Disclosure of Certain Information Relating to Individual Operator) or 521.046 (Disclosure of Accident and Conviction Information) and relates to traffic law convictions of individuals or the occurrences of motor vehicle accidents involving individuals during any 30-day period that is specified by the persons entering into the contract. (b) Sets forth that Subsection (a) applies only if the person is eligible to receive the information under Chapter 730 (Motor Vehicle Records Disclosure Act). (c) Provides that a contract entered into under Subsection (a) must require the contracting party to submit to the department the individuals' drivers license numbers or full names and dates of birth of the persons that the contracting party is seeking information about and pay a monthly fee to the department for providing the information in an amount equal to the department's direct cost of providing the information or $3,000, whichever is greater. (d) Authorizes the department to require that a person who enters into a contract under Subsection (a) must provide the department with a certified check, cashier's check, or bond issued by a surety company that is authorized to do business in this state in an amount equal to the first payment due under the contract to guarantee the person's performance under the contract. SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3.Emergency clause.