HBA-NRS H.B. 116 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 116
By: Najera
Public Safety
7/16/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
 
Under current federal law, a man between the ages of 18 and 26 must
register with the United States Selective Service System. A man who is not
registered with the system in accordance with federal law is ineligible to
receive federal funds and state student loans and may not be hired as a
state employee. House Bill 116 requires the Department of Public Safety to
electronically send information, including the applicant's social security
number, from an application for a driver's license to the United States
Selective Service System for the purpose of registering an applicant under
the Military Selective Service Act. 

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 2 (Section 521.147, Transportation Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 116 amends the Transportation Code to authorize information
provided on a driver's license application that relates to the applicant's
social security number to be disclosed to the United States Selective
Service System (system). The bill requires the Department of Public Safety
(DPS)  to develop by rule a selective service consent statement as a part
of the application for an original, renewal, or duplicate driver's license
or personal identification certificate. The bill provides that the consent
statement must include a place to indicate consent or declination to
register with the system and must state the benefits and penalties
associated with consent or declination to register.  The bill requires DPS
to present the statement to each applicant who is subject to registration
with the system and to record the applicant's response. The bill provides
that a response of consent or declination to register with the system is
required to complete the application. The bill requires DPS to
electronically forward to the system only the information necessary for
registration of an applicant consenting to registration. The bill
authorizes DPS to post signs providing the information contained in the
notification in English and Spanish at each location where applications for
driver's licenses are accepted. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.