S.B. No. 1729
AN ACT
relating to an agreement between the Department of Public Safety
and a county for the provision of renewal and duplicate driver's
license and other identification certificate services; authorizing
a fee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 521.008 to read as follows:
Sec. 521.008. PILOT PROGRAM REGARDING THE PROVISION OF
RENEWAL AND DUPLICATE DRIVER'S LICENSE AND OTHER IDENTIFICATION
CERTIFICATE SERVICES. (a) The department may establish a pilot
program for the provision of renewal and duplicate driver's
license, election identification certificate, and personal
identification certificate services in:
(1) not more than three counties with a population of
50,000 or less;
(2) not more than three counties with a population of
more than 50,000 but less than 1,000,001;
(3) not more than two counties with a population of
more than one million; and
(4) notwithstanding Subdivisions (1)-(3), any county
in which the department operates a driver's license office as a
scheduled or mobile office.
(a-1) Under the pilot program, the department may enter into
an agreement with the commissioners court of a county to permit
county employees to provide services at a county office relating to
the issuance of renewal and duplicate driver's licenses, election
identification certificates, and personal identification
certificates, including:
(1) taking photographs;
(2) administering vision tests;
(3) updating a driver's license, election
identification certificate, or personal identification certificate
to change a name, address, or photograph;
(4) distributing and collecting information relating
to donations under Section 521.401;
(5) collecting fees; and
(6) performing other basic ministerial functions and
tasks necessary to issue renewal and duplicate driver's licenses,
election identification certificates, and personal identification
certificates.
(b) An agreement under Subsection (a-1) may not include
training to administer an examination for driver's license
applicants under Subchapter H.
(c) A participating county must remit to the department for
deposit as required by this chapter fees collected for the issuance
of a renewal or duplicate driver's license or personal
identification certificate.
(d) The commissioners court of a county may provide services
through any consenting county office. A county office may decline
or consent to provide services under this section by providing
written notice to the commissioners court.
(e) The department shall provide all equipment and supplies
necessary to perform the services described by Subsection (a-1),
including network connectivity.
(f) The department shall adopt rules to administer this
section.
SECTION 2. Subchapter R, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 521.428 to read as follows:
Sec. 521.428. COUNTY FEE. A county that provides services
under an agreement described by Section 521.008 may collect an
additional fee of up to $5 for each transaction provided that
relates to driver's license and personal identification
certificate services only.
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, 2013.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1729 passed the Senate on
April 16, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 0; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 23, 2013, by the
following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1729 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 20, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 140,
Nays 0, one present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor