Relating to the use of the Department of Public Safety image verification system for the purpose of verifying an individual's identity; authorizing a fee.

89(R) HB 4514 - House Committee Report version - Bill Text

89R21862 MZM-F

By: Guillen

H.B. No. 4514

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4514:

By: Hefner

C.S.H.B. No. 4514

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the use of the Department of Public Safety image

verification system for the purpose of verifying an individual's

identity; authorizing a fee.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 521.058, Transportation Code, is amended

to read as follows:

Sec. 521.058. DISPOSITION OF FEES.
(a)

Except as provided

by Subsection (b), each
[
Each
] fee collected under this subchapter

shall be deposited to the credit of the Texas mobility fund.

(b)

The fee collected under Section 521.0591 shall be

deposited to the credit of a special account in the general revenue

fund and may be used only by the Department of Public Safety for the

administration of Section 521.0591.

SECTION 2. Section 521.059(c), Transportation Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(c) The department shall use the image verification system

established under this section only to the extent allowed by
:

(1)

Section 521.0591 to verify an individual's

identity; and

(2)
Chapter 730[
, Transportation Code,
] to aid other

law enforcement agencies in:

(A)
[
(1)
] establishing the identity of a victim

of a disaster or crime that a local law enforcement agency is unable

to establish; or

(B)
[
(2)
] conducting an investigation of

criminal conduct.

SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,

is amended by adding Section 521.0591 to read as follows:

Sec.

521.0591.

USE OF IMAGE VERIFICATION SYSTEM FOR

IDENTITY VERIFICATION. (a)

The department may, on entering into a

memorandum of understanding with a person, verify the identity of

an individual by comparing a facial image of the individual to

facial images contained in the image verification system

established under Section 521.059.

The department may comply with

a request under this section only if the request includes:

(1)

a facial image of the individual who is the subject

of the identity verification request and any other information the

department requires to determine the individual's identity;

(2)

the consent of the individual described by

Subdivision (1); and

(3) the fee described by Subsection (c).

(b)

The department may refuse to provide an identity

verification under this section for any reason.

(c)

The department by rule shall establish a fee for the

submission of an identity verification request under this section

in an amount sufficient to cover the costs of the department's

compliance with this section, including the direct and indirect

costs associated with the department's use of the image

verification system.

(d)

Information submitted to the department as part of an

identity verification request under this section, including all

images and personal identifying information, is confidential and

not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.

(e)

The department shall, after conducting an identity

verification or refusing to conduct an identity verification under

this section, destroy all information submitted as part of the

identity verification request.

The department shall adopt rules to

implement this subsection.

(f)

The department may contract with a private vendor to

allow the vendor access to the image verification system under

Section 521.059 for the purpose of processing identity verification

requests under this section.

SECTION 4. Not later than December 1, 2025, the Department

of Public Safety shall adopt the rules necessary to implement

Section 521.0591, Transportation Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.