85R4205 KKR-D By: Canales H.B. No. 1823 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to properly recorded diacritical marks in vital statistics records, driver's licenses, commercial driver's licenses, and personal identification certificates. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 191, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 191.009 to read as follows: Sec. 191.009. USE OF DIACRITICAL MARKS. (a) In this section, "diacritical mark" means a mark used in Latin script to change the sound of the letter to which it is added or used to distinguish the meaning of the word in which the letter appears. The term includes accents, tildes, graves, umlauts, and cedillas. (b) The state registrar shall ensure that a vital statistics record issued under this title properly records any diacritical mark used in a person's name. SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 521.127 to read as follows: Sec. 521.127. USE OF DIACRITICAL MARKS. (a) In this section, "diacritical mark" means a mark used in Latin script to change the sound of a letter to which it is added or used to distinguish the meaning of the word in which the letter appears. The term includes accents, tildes, graves, umlauts, and cedillas. (b) The department shall ensure that an original or renewal driver's license or personal identification certificate issued under this chapter properly records any diacritical mark used in a person's name. SECTION 3. Section 522.030, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: (d) The department shall ensure that an original or renewal commercial driver's license or commercial learner's permit issued under this chapter properly records any diacritical mark used in a person's name. In this subsection, "diacritical mark" means a mark used in Latin script to change the sound of a letter to which it is added or used to distinguish the meaning of the word in which the letter appears. The term includes accents, tildes, graves, umlauts, and cedillas. SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only to a vital statistics record issued by the Department of State Health Services vital statistics unit or a driver's license, personal identification certificate, or commercial driver's license or learner's permit issued or renewed by the Texas Department of Public Safety on or after September 1, 2018. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.