Texas DPS Applies for $171.2 Million in Federal Real ID Grants

A BeatTheChip  Exclusive

AUSTIN — Texas Department of Public Safety License Administrator Chief Judy Brown briefed the Public Safety Commission October 16th on the DPS’s application status for $171.2 million in FEMA/DHS grants to implement recent rules and technologies to implement Real ID compliant license standards.  Chief Brown discussed the public-private business model which includes staffing commission officers in a new license administrator hierarchy amid priorities to implement the federal mandate.

Brown indicated there was significant reluctance from State Legislators and resources to move forward with financing license implementations with State funds.  If the FEMA/DHS grants are accepted in the State of Texas, proposed rulemaking would standardize new licenses to for federal purposes such as:  applying for social programs, entering federal buildings, and flying on regulated aircraft by the next deadline of 2009.

C.Lowe Jr. , DPS Comissioner, asked Chief Brown about her rationale for employing comissioned officers over civillian clerks.

“Civillians will argue with another civllian clerk.  They will not argue with a uniform,” said Chief Brown during her commentary for incorporating a new job title, “Civillian Manager”.

Other topics covered during the meeting included a statement from DPS Chairman Allen Polunsky responding to citizens opposing a new rule to instill random license checkpoints and a new rule to demand citizenship documentation in order to attain a dirvers license saying, “There is no current plan to implement checkpoints in the State of Texas.”

Polunsky later in the meeting submitted a letter from Texas Senator Hinahosa concerned about the rulemaking for license requirements and license examination checkpoints.

Earlier this month the DPS sought permissions from the Attorney General in the form of an opinion request document to allow license checkpoints in the State of Texas.   Checkpoints have been illegal in the state of Texas since 1994.