87R11314 TYPED
By: Paxton S.B. No. 991
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certain vendors entering into agreements with the
Department of Public Safety for the issuance of renewal and
duplicate driver's licenses and other identification certificate
services, including voter registration services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 20.001, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
(b-1) Each vendor that provides services under an agreement
described by Section 521.009, Transportation Code, is designated as
a voter registration agency.
SECTION 2. The heading to Subchapter C, Chapter 20,
Election Code, is amended to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER C. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND VENDORS
SECTION 3. Section 20.061, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 20.061. APPLICABILITY [OF OTHER PROVISIONS]. (a) The
other provisions of this chapter apply to the Department of Public
Safety and vendors described by Section 20.001(b-1) except
provisions that conflict with this subchapter.
(b) The provisions of this subchapter apply to vendors
described by Section 20.001(b-1) in the same manner as those
provisions apply to the Department of Public Safety.
SECTION 4. Section 521.009, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsections (a), (a-1), and (c) and adding Subsections
(e-1), (e-2), and (g) to read as follows:
(a) The department may establish a program for the provision
of renewal and duplicate driver's license, election identification
certificate, and personal identification certificate services by
[in] counties, [and] municipalities, and private vendors that enter
into an agreement with the department under Subsection (a-1).
(a-1) Under the program, the department may enter into an
agreement with the commissioners court of a county, [or] the
governing body of a municipality, or a private vendor, to permit
county, [or] municipal, or vendor employees to provide services at
a county or municipal office or at a location determined by the
vendor 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.
(c) A participating county, [or] municipality, or vendor
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.
(e-1) An agreement under Subsection (a-1) with a vendor must
require the vendor to:
(1) comply with training requirements developed by the
department under Subsection (e-2);
(2) agree to serve as a voter registration agency in a
manner that ensures compliance with federal law; and
(3) comply with the same privacy and information
security standards required of the department.
(e-2) The department shall develop training requirements
for a vendor relating to the services provided by the vendor under
this section.
(g) The department may perform periodic audits of a vendor
that has entered into an agreement with the department under
Subsection (a-1) to ensure compliance with this section, the
agreement entered into under this section, and any rules adopted by
the department under this section.
SECTION 5. Section 521.428, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 521.428. COUNTY, [OR] MUNICIPAL, OR PRIVATE VENDOR
FEE. (a) A county, [or] municipality, or private vendor that
provides services under an agreement described by Section 521.009
may collect an additional fee of up to $10 [$5] for each transaction
provided that relates to driver's license and personal
identification certificate services only.
(b) No portion of a fee authorized under this section may be
charged for performing a function in connection with voter
registration.
SECTION 6. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas
shall adopt rules as necessary to implement Section 521.009,
Transportation Code, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.