The department must disclose certain driver-record information to specified government entities in defined situations, must not charge fees in some disclosures, may share some records for government purposes, must provide certain records to appraisal district chief appraisers without charge, must exclude social security and collision/conviction information from one type of record, and must respond to certain out-of-state driving-record requests within 30 days.
Sec. 521.049. INFORMATION SUPPLIED TO CERTAIN GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES. (a) The department shall disclose information relating to the name, date of birth, and most recent address as shown in department records to the Texas Department of Health during an emergency or epidemic declared by the commissioner of health to notify individuals of the need to receive certain immunizations. (b) The department may not charge a fee for information disclosed to a law enforcement agency or other governmental agency for an official purpose, except that the department may charge its regular fees for information provided to those governmental agencies in bulk for research projects. (c) The department may make information from driver's license record files, including class-type listings, available to an official of the United States, the state, or a political subdivision of this state for government purposes only. (d) To assist chief appraisers in determining the eligibility of individuals for residence homestead exemptions from ad valorem taxation under Section 11.13, Tax Code, and the applicability to certain individuals of additional notice provisions under Subchapters C and D, Chapter 23, Tax Code, the department shall provide, without charge, to the chief appraiser of each appraisal district in this state: (1) a copy of each driver's license record or personal identification certificate record held by the department; or (2) information relating to the name, date of birth, driver's license or personal identification certificate number, and most recent address as shown in the records of individuals included in the department's driver's license or personal identification certificate records. (e) A driver's license record or personal identification certificate record provided under Subsection (d)(1) may not include information relating to an individual's social security number or any collision or conviction information about an individual. (f) The department shall respond to a request for a driving record check received from another state under 49 C.F.R. Section 384.206 within 30 days of the date of the request. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 424 (S.B. 1372), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2008. Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 766 (H.B. 3514), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 1969), Sec. 27.001(104), eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 352 (H.B. 1464), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 709 (H.B. 2190), Sec. 22, eff. September 1, 2023.