HBA-TYH, MPA, BTC H.B. 318 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 318
By: Driver
Public Safety
7/21/1999
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 76th Legislature, it was a Class B or C misdemeanor to
knowingly provide false information on an application for a driver's
license or personal identification card issued by the Department of Public
Safety (DPS).  This same offense was a Class A misdemeanor under Section
37.10 (Tampering with Governmental Records), Penal Code.  H.B. 318 amends
the Transportation Code to make the penalty for knowingly providing false
information on an application for a driver's license or DPS-issued personal
identification card a Class A misdemeanor. 

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 Section 521.454(c), Transportation Code, to reclassify
the offense under this section (False Application) from a Class C
misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor.  Deletes the exception stating that
the offense is a Class B misdemeanor if the matter, information, or
statement falsely sworn to or affirmed relates to the cancellation,
suspension, revocation, or denial of the declarant's license. 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.