86R20417 JRR-D
By: Guillen H.B. No. 1844
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1844:
By: Goodwin C.S.H.B. No. 1844
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to authorizing certain optional designations on a person's
driver's license, commercial driver's license, or personal
identification certificate.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 521.011, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 521.011. SERVICES INFORMATION FOR VETERANS. The
department and the Texas Veterans Commission shall jointly develop
a one-page informational paper about veterans services provided by
this state for veterans who receive:
(1) a driver's license with a designation under
Section 521.1235; [or]
(2) a commercial driver's license with a designation
under Section 522.0301; or
(3) a personal identification certificate with a
designation under Section 521.102.
SECTION 2. Section 521.101(l), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(l) The application for the personal identification
certificate must provide space for the applicant:
(1) to voluntarily list any information that may
qualify the applicant to receive a personal identification
certificate with a designation under Section 521.102 or 521.105;
and
(2) to include proof required by the department to
determine the applicant's eligibility to receive that designation.
SECTION 3. Subchapter E, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 521.105 to read as follows:
Sec. 521.105. CERTAIN OPTIONAL DESIGNATIONS ON PERSONAL
IDENTIFICATION CERTIFICATE. (a) Subject to available funds, the
department shall include on a personal identification certificate
issued to a person who:
(1) holds a lifetime resident hunting, fishing, or
combination hunting and fishing license issued under Section
42.0021, 46.004(d), or 50.001(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, as
applicable, a designation indicating the person's status as a
holder of the applicable license if the person:
(A) requests the designation; and
(B) provides proof sufficient to the department
that the person is a holder of the applicable license; or
(2) has been assigned a unique identifier under
Section 18.061, Election Code, a designation indicating the
person's unique identifier assigned under that section if the
person requests the designation.
(b) The department by rule may establish additional
designations that may be included on a personal identification
certificate issued to a person who:
(1) requests the designation; and
(2) provides proof sufficient to the department that
the person is eligible to receive the designation.
(c) The department may enter into an agreement with the
secretary of state for purposes of verifying under this section or
Section 521.128 or 522.0302 a person's unique identifier assigned
under Section 18.061, Election Code.
SECTION 4. Subchapter F, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 521.128 to read as follows:
Sec. 521.128. CERTAIN OPTIONAL DESIGNATIONS ON DRIVER'S
LICENSE. (a) Subject to available funds, the department shall
include on a driver's license issued to a person who:
(1) holds a lifetime resident hunting, fishing, or
combination hunting and fishing license issued under Section
42.0021, 46.004(d), or 50.001(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, as
applicable, a designation indicating the person's status as a
holder of the applicable license if the person:
(A) requests the designation; and
(B) provides proof sufficient to the department
that the person is a holder of the applicable license; or
(2) has been assigned a unique identifier under
Section 18.061, Election Code, a designation indicating the
person's unique identifier assigned under that section if the
person requests the designation.
(b) The department by rule may establish additional
designations that may be included on a driver's license issued to a
person who:
(1) requests the designation; and
(2) provides proof sufficient to the department that
the person is eligible to receive the designation.
SECTION 5. Section 521.142(i), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(i) The application must provide space for the applicant:
(1) to voluntarily list any information that may
qualify the applicant to receive a license with a designation under
Section 521.1235 or 521.128; and
(2) to include proof required by the department to
determine the applicant's eligibility to receive that designation.
SECTION 6. Section 522.021, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
(f) The application must provide space for the applicant:
(1) to voluntarily list any information that may
qualify the applicant to receive a license with a designation under
Section 522.0301 or 522.0302; and
(2) to include proof required by the department to
determine the applicant's eligibility to receive that designation.
SECTION 7. Subchapter C, Chapter 522, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Sections 522.0301 and 522.0302 to read as
follows:
Sec. 522.0301. DESIGNATION ON COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE
ISSUED TO VETERAN. (a) In this section:
(1) "Disability rating" has the meaning assigned by
Section 11.22, Tax Code.
(2) "Disabled veteran" and "veteran" have the meanings
assigned by Section 521.1235.
(b) The department shall include the designation "VETERAN"
on a commercial driver's license issued to a veteran in an available
space on the face of the commercial driver's license or on the
reverse side of the commercial driver's license if:
(1) the veteran requests the designation; and
(2) the veteran provides proof sufficient to the
department of the veteran's military service and honorable
discharge.
(c) If a disabled veteran provides proof sufficient to the
department, the department, on request of the disabled veteran,
shall include on a commercial driver's license issued to the
disabled veteran in any available space on the face of the
commercial driver's license or on the reverse side of the
commercial driver's license:
(1) a disabled veteran designation; and
(2) the branch of the service in which the disabled
veteran served.
(d) The department shall provide to the recipient of a
commercial driver's license with a designation under this section
the informational paper described by Section 521.011 at the time
the license is issued.
(e) Notwithstanding any other law and except as provided by
Subsection (f), for purposes of obtaining a service or benefit
available for disabled veterans in this state, a disabled veteran
may use a commercial driver's license described by Subsection (c)
as satisfactory proof:
(1) that the disabled veteran has a disability rating
described by Section 521.1235(a)(2)(A) or (B), as applicable; and
(2) of branch of service and honorable discharge.
(f) A commercial driver's license described by Subsection
(c) is not satisfactory proof of the disabled veteran's disability
rating for purposes of obtaining a property tax exemption provided
by Chapter 11, Tax Code.
(g) A disabled veteran who renews a commercial driver's
license described by Subsection (c) shall provide proof sufficient
to the department of the disabled veteran's disability rating.
Sec. 522.0302. CERTAIN OPTIONAL DESIGNATIONS ON COMMERCIAL
DRIVER'S LICENSE. (a) Subject to available funds, the department
shall include on a commercial driver's license issued to a person
who:
(1) holds a lifetime resident hunting, fishing, or
combination hunting and fishing license issued under Section
42.0021, 46.004(d), or 50.001(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, as
applicable, a designation indicating the person's status as a
holder of the applicable license if the person:
(A) requests the designation; and
(B) provides proof sufficient to the department
that the person is a holder of the applicable license; or
(2) has been assigned a unique identifier under
Section 18.061, Election Code, a designation indicating the
person's unique identifier assigned under that section if the
person requests the designation.
(b) The department by rule may establish additional
designations that may be included on a commercial driver's license
issued to a person who:
(1) requests the designation; and
(2) provides proof sufficient to the department that
the person is eligible to receive the designation.
SECTION 8. The changes in law made by this Act to Chapters
521 and 522, Transportation Code, apply only to a driver's license,
commercial driver's license, or personal identification
certificate issued or renewed under Chapter 521 or 522,
Transportation Code, on or after September 1, 2021.
SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.