Bill Text: TX HB2025 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Relating to legislative oversight of the issuance of driver's licenses and certain other forms of identification in this state.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-05-02 - Received from the House [HB2025 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB2025-Engrossed.html

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86R22570 AAF-F
By: Thompson of Brazoria H.B. No. 2025

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to legislative oversight of the issuance of driver's
licenses and certain other forms of identification in this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 7, Transportation Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 526 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 526. JOINT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON ISSUANCE OF DRIVER'S
LICENSES AND OTHER FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION
Sec. 526.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Committee" means the Joint Oversight Committee on
Issuance of Driver's Licenses and Other Forms of Identification.
(2) "Department" has the meaning assigned by Section
521.001.
Sec. 526.002. ESTABLISHMENT AND DUTIES. (a) The committee
is established to review the administration and implementation of
the following duties of the department:
(1) the issuance of driver's licenses under Chapters
521 and 522;
(2) the issuance of personal identification
certificates under Chapter 521;
(3) the issuance of election identification
certificates under Chapter 521A; and
(4) the registration of voters during the issuance or
renewal of a driver's license or personal identification
certificate.
(b) The committee shall review plans and receive updates
from state and local governmental entities involved with the
administration and implementation of the department's duties
described by Subsection (a).
Sec. 526.003. COMPOSITION. (a) The committee is composed
of eight members as follows:
(1) four members of the senate appointed by the
lieutenant governor; and
(2) four members of the house of representatives
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) The chair of the committee shall alternate biennially
between:
(1) a member of the senate appointed by the lieutenant
governor; and
(2) a member of the house of representatives appointed
by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(c) A vacancy on the committee shall be filled in the same
manner as the original appointment.
Sec. 526.004. REPORT. The committee biennially shall
provide a written report to the legislature that identifies:
(1) the amounts of money appropriated and expended for
the administration and implementation of the department's duties
described by Section 526.002(a) during a period determined by the
committee;
(2) current technological and operational
deficiencies in the administration and implementation of the
department's duties described by Section 526.002(a);
(3) information relating to the amount of time the
interaction between the department and a customer currently takes
for the issuance of a driver's license, personal identification
certificate, or election identification certificate; and
(4) recommendations relating to the improvement and
optimization of the administration and implementation of the
department's duties described by Section 526.002(a) for the
consideration of the legislature, including any necessary funding
and timelines to implement the recommendations of the committee, as
applicable.
Sec. 526.005. ADMINISTRATION OF COMMITTEE. (a) The
committee:
(1) has the powers and duties of a joint committee
created by proclamation; and
(2) may obtain funding in the same manner as a joint
committee created by proclamation.
(b) The rules adopted by the 86th Legislature for the
administration of joint committees created by proclamation apply to
the committee to the extent the rules are consistent with this
section.
Sec. 526.006. EXPIRATION OF CHAPTER. The committee is
abolished and this chapter expires on September 1, 2029.
SECTION 2. (a) In this section, "committee" means the Joint
Oversight Committee on Issuance of Driver's Licenses and Other
Forms of Identification.
(b) The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of
representatives shall make appointments to the committee not later
than the 30th day after the effective date of this Act.
(c) The speaker of the house of representatives shall
appoint the initial chair of the committee.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2019.