Austin, TX - The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights organization, applauded Governor Rick Perry's signing Sunday of HB 1403 (Noriega), but expressed disappointment at the Governor's veto of HB 396 (Wise) and at his lack of consistency in addressing two key issues affecting Texas citizens and immigrants alike.

HB 396 would have instructed the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to accept additional forms of identity that are valid and traceable for driver's license applicants. In addition, HB 396 would have created alternatives to the existing practice of requiring a Social Security number as a condition for obtaining a Texas driver's license. HB 396 passed out of the House of Representatives and State Senate by 109-19 and 29-1, respectively.
"HB 396 received overwhelming support in the Texas legislature and was recognized by Republicans and Democrats as good public policy because it would help to ensure the safety of all Texans on the state's roads. By vetoing HB 396, Governor Perry has unnecessarily left unfinished business for the Texas legislature," said NCLR President Raul Yzaguirre. 

In his press release, Governor Perry justified his veto by stating that current Texas law and DPS administrative rules provide options for legal immigrants residing in Texas to obtain a driver's license. "While options technically do exist, HB 396 received such widespread support because current DPS provisions make it very difficult for immigrants to obtain a Texas driver's license. Given this reality, HB 396 passed the Texas legislature not to ease the driver's license application process but to ensure public safety by assuring that the greatest number of Texas drivers are tested, licensed, and able to get insured," noted Yzaguirre 

NCLR believes that Governor Perry's record on legislation affecting immigrants would have been consistent and solid if he had considered the bill using the same principles he used to justify his decision to sign another legislative measure, HB 1403.

HB 1403 allows students, who have resided with their parents and/or guardian and attended Texas schools for three years or more, to be classified as residents for the purposes of in-state college tuition rates, irrespective of their citizenship status. HB 1403 was voted out of the House of Representatives by a 142-1 margin and unanimously out of the State Senate. 

"This law is sound public policy. It will help ensure the future prosperity of Texas by providing affordable tuition rates to Texas families and to the state's future taxpayers," continued Yzaguirre. "By doing so, it is helping all children in the Texas public education system gain access to higher education so they can prepare for the workforce.

By signing HB 1403, yet vetoing HB 396, Governor Perry has sent a mixed signal about his priorities for the state. "We commend Governor Perry for allowing affordable access to education, but we are disturbed that he does not believe in providing for the public safety of Texas. By vetoing HB 396, the Governor has ignored the will of the Texas legislature and its residents and has made the victory on HB 1403 incomplete," concluded Yzaguirre.

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