HBA-RAR H.B. 571 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 571
By: Hupp
Public Safety
4/4/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, driver's licenses issued by the state contain certain
information about the driver's license holder in electronically readable
form.  Applicants for a driver's license are also required to provide
fingerprints.  H.B. 571 prohibits the Department of Public Safety from
including any information on a driver's license in electronically readable
form or from requiring an applicant for a driver's license to provide
fingerprints.   

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 F, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 521.126 to prohibit the Department of Public Safety of the
State of Texas (department) from including any information on a driver's
license in an electronically readable form. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Sections 521.142(b) and (e), Transportation Code, to
prohibit the department from requiring an applicant for a driver's license
to provide the applicant's thumbprint or fingerprint. Makes a conforming
change. 

SECTION 3.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 5.  Emergency clause.