Bill Text: TX HB2025 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to legislative oversight of the issuance of driver's licenses and certain other forms of identification in this state.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-05-02 - Received from the House [HB2025 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB2025-Introduced.html

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By: Thompson of Brazoria H.B. No. 2025

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to legislative oversight of certain licensing programs
administered by agencies of this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 521, Transportation Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter T, and a heading is added to that subchapter to
read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER T. LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT
SECTION 2. Subchapter T, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
as added by this Act, is amended by adding Section 521.501 to read
as follows:
Sec. 521.501. JOINT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON THE DRIVER'S
LICENSE PROGRAM. (a) In this section:
(1) "committee" means the Joint Oversight Committee on
the Driver's License Program.
(2) "licensing program" means:
(A) the programs established by Chapters 521 and
522, Transportation Code, and other law, that license a person to
operate in this state a motor vehicle, as defined by Section
501.002, Transportation Code, or a commercial motor vehicle, as
defined by Section 522.003, Transportation Code;
(B) the program to issue election identification
certificates under Chapter 521A, Transportation Code; and
(C) the voter registration processes under the
Election Code that relate to the original issuance or renewal of a
driver's license or personal identification card.
(b) The committee is created to review the administration
and implementation of the licensing program as administered by
agencies of this state. The committee shall review plans and
receive updates from state and local governmental entities involved
with the administration of the licensing program as required by
law.
(c) The committee is composed of eight members as follows:
(1) four members of the senate appointed by the
lieutenant governor; and
(2) four members of the house of representatives
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(d) The chair of the committee shall alternate biannually
between:
(1) a member of the senate appointed by the lieutenant
governor; and
(2) a member of the house of representatives appointed
by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(e) The speaker of the house of representatives shall
appoint the first chair of the committee.
(f) A vacancy on the committee shall be filled in the same
manner as the original appointment.
(g) The committee biannually shall provide a written report
to the legislature that identifies:
(1) amounts appropriated and expended for the
licensing program for a time period to be determined by the
committee;
(2) current technological and operational
deficiencies within the licensing program as determined by the
committee;
(3) information relating to the amount of time
currently required for a customer to interact with the licensing
program; and
(4) recommendations relating to the improvement and
optimization of the licensing program for the consideration of the
legislature, including recommendations relating to funding and any
timelines necessary to implement the recommendations of the
committee, as applicable.
(h) The committee shall:
(1) have the powers and duties of a joint committee
created by proclamation; and
(2) obtain funding in the same manner as a joint
committee created by proclamation.
(i) The rules adopted by the Legislature for the
administration of joint committees created by proclamation apply to
the committee to the extent the rules are consistent with this
section.
(j) The committee is abolished and this section expires on
September 1, 2029.
SECTION 3. (a) If this Act receives the votes necessary for
immediate effect, the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the
house of representatives shall make appointments to the Joint
Oversight Committee on the Driver's License Program not later than
July 1, 2019.
(b) If this Act does not receive the votes necessary for
immediate effect, the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the
house of representatives shall make appointments to the Joint
Oversight Committee on the Driver's License Program not later than
September 31, 2019.
SECTION 4. 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, 2019.