AUSTIN, TEXAS (AP) -- Some Democratic legislators today joined other Texans who say they've had trouble getting a driver's license under new Department of Public Safety rules.
Republican Gov. Rick Perry has defended the policy as necessary for public safety and to avoid fraud.
Under new DPS rules, a person seeking a driver's license who isn't a U.S. citizen must show he or she is in the country legally and immigration documents that don't expire within six months.
DPS also changed the look of the licenses given to legal residents and added "temporary visitor" on the card.
Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon of San Antonio says DPS created new identification rules for license applicants without any direction from the Legislature.
McClendon has filed a bill to stop the policy. Sen. Judith Zaffirini of Laredo filed an identical proposal in the Senate.
Rep. Rafael Anchia of Dallas says some elderly Texans don't have birth certificates.
The drivers license identification bills are HB1278 and SB2261.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
