89R3866 MZM-D By: Guillen 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 521.059(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 2. 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 request of any 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 and the name of the individual who is the subject of the identity verification request; (2) the written 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) This section does not authorize the disclosure of an image contained in the image verification system established under Section 521.059 to any person. (e) 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. (f) The department shall, promptly 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. SECTION 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.