Senate passes new restrictions on local IDs

Election official checks the photo identification card of a voter (AP file photo) Election official checks the photo identification card of a voter (AP file photo) Photo: Travis Morisse, MBO Photo: Travis Morisse, MBO Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Senate passes new restrictions on local IDs 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN — Legislation designed to limit the ability of cities for issuing ID cards to undocumented immigrants and onetime criminals was tentatively approved Thursday by the Texas Senate.

Supporters insisted Senate Bill 1733 was designed to standardize ID across Texas, and ensure that they meet federal homeland-security standards.

Opponents said the measure is designed to make it harder for minority populations to get access to services, and targets immigrants since many of them use locally issued ID cards for that purpose.

The bill author, Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, said that under current law cities can issue ID cards as they see fit, and those cards can be used for a variety of purposes -- even though cities do not have to consider the "immigration or criminal status" of the person issued the card.

"The (Texas) secretary of state will set a standard for the cards that municipalities can use," Birdwell said.

Even so, Sen. Jose Rodriguez, an El Paso Democrat who chairs the minority caucus in the Republican-controlled Senate, said he fears "various groups would be restricted from accessing services" because the bill appears to limit local officials from issuing cards and restricts the types of cards that can be accepted for identification by a government official.

Sen. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, expressed similar concerns.

"They're more worried about this being used for voting than anything else," she said after the debate ended. "It's all made up. It's a problem that doesn't exist."

Despite the concerns, the Senate tentatively approved the bill 20-10, along party lines. If it is approved on a final vote, it will then go to the House for consideration.