Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB656 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	S.B. No. 656
2	2
3	3
4	4	AN ACT
5	5	relating to an optional health condition or disability designation
6	6	on a driver's license or personal identification certificate.
7	7	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
8	8	SECTION 1. Sections 521.060(a) and (c), Transportation
9	9	Code, are amended to read as follows:
10	10	(a) The department shall maintain in its files a record of
11	11	the name, address, and telephone number of each individual
12	12	identified by the holder of a driver's license or personal
13	13	identification certificate as an individual the holder authorizes
14	14	to be contacted in the event that the holder is injured or dies in or
15	15	as a result of a vehicular accident or another emergency situation.
16	16	In addition, the department shall maintain in its files a record of
17	17	any medical information described by Section 521.125(a) that is
18	18	provided to the department under Subsection (c) or any health
19	19	condition information that is voluntarily provided to the
20	20	department under Sections 521.1251 and [Section] 521.142(h).
21	21	(c) An application for an original, renewal, or duplicate
22	22	driver's license or personal identification certificate must:
23	23	(1) be designed to allow, but not require, the
24	24	applicant to provide:
25	25	(A) the name, address, and telephone number of
26	26	not more than two individuals to be contacted if the applicant is
27	27	injured or dies in a circumstance described by Subsection (a); and
28	28	(B) in addition to health condition information
29	29	voluntarily provided under Sections 521.1251 and [Section]
30	30	521.142(h), medical information described by Section 521.125(a);
31	31	and
32	32	(2) include a statement that:
33	33	(A) describes the confidential nature of the
34	34	information; and
35	35	(B) states that by providing the department with
36	36	the information, the applicant consents to the limited disclosure
37	37	and use of the information.
38	38	SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
39	39	is amended by adding Section 521.1251 to read as follows:
40	40	Sec. 521.1251. OPTIONAL HEALTH CONDITION OR DISABILITY
41	41	DESIGNATION. (a) The department shall provide to each applicant
42	42	for the issuance of an original, renewal, corrected, or duplicate
43	43	driver's license or personal identification certificate who
44	44	applies in person the opportunity to voluntarily indicate on a
45	45	driver's license or personal identification certificate that the
46	46	person has a health condition or disability that may impede
47	47	effective communication with a peace officer. The department may
48	48	request from a person who makes an indication under this subsection
49	49	verification of a condition in the form of a written statement from
50	50	a licensed physician, including a psychiatrist.
51	51	(b) The department shall include a designation that
52	52	indicates the person has a health condition or disability that may
53	53	impede effective communication with a peace officer on each
54	54	driver's license or personal identification certificate issued to a
55	55	person who:
56	56	(1) makes an election under this section; and
57	57	(2) provides sufficient evidence under Subsection (a)
58	58	to qualify for the designation.
59	59	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
60	60	______________________________ ______________________________
61	61	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
62	62	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 656 passed the Senate on
63	63	March 21, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
64	64	______________________________
65	65	Secretary of the Senate
66	66	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 656 passed the House on
67	67	May 9, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 132, Nays 10,
68	68	two present not voting.
69	69	______________________________
70	70	Chief Clerk of the House
71	71	Approved:
72	72	______________________________
73	73	Date
74	74	______________________________
75	75	Governor