Bill

SB 398

84(R) - 2015
Senate Transportation
Senate Transportation
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Privacy
Transportation & Infrastructure

Vote Recommendation

Yes
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Positive
  • Positive

Author(s)

Charles Schwertner

Co-Author(s)

Don Huffines

Bill Caption

Relating to fingerprints collected by the Texas Department of Public Safety from an applicant for a driver's license or personal identification certificate and used for the department's image verification system.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. 

Bill Analysis

S.B. 398 would amend Section 521.059, Transportation Code, to conform to Section 521.142, Transportation Code. This legislation would clarify that DPS only has the authority to collect an applicant's thumbprints or, if thumbprints cannot be taken, the applicant's index fingerprints. As proposed, S.B. 398 amends current law relating to fingerprints collected by the Texas Department of Public Safety from an applicant for a driver's license or personal identification certificate and used for the department's image verification system. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

This bill supports individual liberty and limited scope of government, by only allowing the Department of Transportation to capture an individuals thumb print, and only if those prints cannot be taken; additional fingerprints. This amends the current statute that mandates all 10 fingers must be printed. Historically, it is considered an overreach of government to fingerprint someone who is not being suspected or charged with a crime.