By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 656
(In the Senate - Filed January 27, 2023; February 17, 2023,
read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation;
March 15, 2023, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; March 15, 2023,
sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 656 By: West
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an optional health condition or disability designation
on a driver's license or personal identification certificate.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 521.060(a) and (c), Transportation
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The department shall maintain in its files a record of
the name, address, and telephone number of each individual
identified by the holder of a driver's license or personal
identification certificate as an individual the holder authorizes
to be contacted in the event that the holder is injured or dies in or
as a result of a vehicular accident or another emergency situation.
In addition, the department shall maintain in its files a record of
any medical information described by Section 521.125(a) that is
provided to the department under Subsection (c) or any health
condition information that is voluntarily provided to the
department under Sections 521.1251 and [Section] 521.142(h).
(c) An application for an original, renewal, or duplicate
driver's license or personal identification certificate must:
(1) be designed to allow, but not require, the
applicant to provide:
(A) the name, address, and telephone number of
not more than two individuals to be contacted if the applicant is
injured or dies in a circumstance described by Subsection (a); and
(B) in addition to health condition information
voluntarily provided under Sections 521.1251 and [Section]
521.142(h), medical information described by Section 521.125(a);
and
(2) include a statement that:
(A) describes the confidential nature of the
information; and
(B) states that by providing the department with
the information, the applicant consents to the limited disclosure
and use of the information.
SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 521.1251 to read as follows:
Sec. 521.1251. OPTIONAL HEALTH CONDITION OR DISABILITY
DESIGNATION. (a) The department shall provide to each applicant
for the issuance of an original, renewal, corrected, or duplicate
driver's license or personal identification certificate who
applies in person the opportunity to voluntarily indicate on a
driver's license or personal identification certificate that the
person has a health condition or disability that may impede
effective communication with a peace officer. The department may
request from a person who makes an indication under this subsection
verification of a condition in the form of a written statement from
a licensed physician, including a psychiatrist.
(b) The department shall include a designation that
indicates the person has a health condition or disability that may
impede effective communication with a peace officer on each
driver's license or personal identification certificate issued to a
person who:
(1) makes an election under this section; and
(2) provides sufficient evidence under Subsection (a)
to qualify for the designation.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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