The bill, S.B. No. 1100, amends the Transportation Code to enhance the use of the Department of Public Safety's (DPS) image verification system for identity verification purposes. It specifies that the DPS may verify an individual's identity by comparing facial images, provided that a memorandum of understanding is in place. The bill outlines the requirements for submitting an identity verification request, which includes a facial image, the individual's consent, and a fee established by the department. Additionally, it allows the DPS to refuse requests for identity verification for any reason and mandates that all information submitted as part of the request is confidential and must be destroyed after the verification process.

The bill also introduces new provisions regarding the establishment of a fee to cover the costs associated with the identity verification process and allows the DPS to contract with private vendors for processing these requests. The department is required to adopt rules to implement these changes by December 1, 2025, and the act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025. The amendments include the deletion of previous language that limited the use of the image verification system solely to aiding law enforcement agencies in specific situations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Transportation Code 521.059 (Transportation Code 521)