BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 5142

By: Kacal

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The legislature should take steps to make it easier for veterans to apply for a "VETERAN" designation on a driver's license or personal identification certificate. C.S.H.B. 5142 seeks to allow a veteran to provide proof of service and honorable discharge as required to receive this designation simply by showing an identification card issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. Department of Defense.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 5142 amends the Transportation Code to require the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to accept a veteran identification card issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or an identification card issued by the U.S. Department of Defense as sufficient proof of the veteran's military service and honorable discharge for purposes of issuing a driver's license or personal identification certificate with a veteran designation.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 5142 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

Whereas the introduced required only that DPS accept a veteran identification card issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the substitute requires DPS also to accept an identification card issued by the U.S. Department of Defense.