New laws in effect next month may strike nerve for some Texans

Interestingly enough, there is also the possibility that you may receive a traffic citation in your mailbox in the coming months. Don't be too surprised to receive one in spite of the fact that you never got pulled over by a traffic cop. Many cities have installed cameras at intersections to photograph any vehicle running a red light, and the system simply shoots out a citation to the offending driver. Cities will now be required to post signs saying that traffic cameras are being used but many drivers will never notice the warning signs.

The growing problem of identity theft has been addressed in a new law that will allow businesses to verify the identity of any customer desiring to write a check. Verification may be done by using electronically readable information on a driver's license or personal ID card. This type of verification may also be used by hospitals to identify patients in Texas.

Technology that collects personal data by scanning a patient's identification card or driver's license has previously been prohibited. The new law changes that. There is justification for the change...but it may not please the masses. The reasoning is that electronic data capture will maintain data integrity, which is critically important for public entities. When governmental agencies must rely on manual data entry, there is more duplication, delay and discrepancies. Texas, and every other state, is in the process of moving toward a national identification card. Many other countries have had such cards for years.

Watch for a change also when and if you decide your old computer no longer has value to you. When this happens, E-waste is a term you may encounter. There are new laws and regulations about electronic disposal. If you think about it, you can quickly see the problems and the need for regulation. With millions of computers to be disposed of each year, the problem of how to manage the process becomes extremely large. Computers do not disintegrate. New legislation establishes guidelines and regulations. These new regulations will soon begin to touch consumers, retailers and governmental entities.

Many of the changes that will take place in September impact governmental agencies rather than individuals. Some of the changes that are being forced on government, however, will eventually begin to change consumer habits. For instance, Texas agencies that operate fleets of vehicles will be required to ensure that at least 10 percent of all new vehicles purchased are both low-emission and fuel-efficient. These vehicles must demonstrate an average fuel economy of at least 30 miles per gallon. With fleet operations spending more than $41 million per year on fuel, the more fuel-efficient vehicles are estimated to save $200-$1,500 per vehicle each year. Those savings will translate into taxpayer savings and the forced purchasing of the vehicles will encourage car manufacturers to continue making such cars and trucks.

The competitive bidding statutes for government procurement have also been changed. State agencies will no longer have to procure through a competitive bid process if a purchase does not exceed $5,000.

The success of the Amber Alert Program in Texas, which assists authorities in locating missing or abducted children, led lawmakers to direct the Texas Department of Public Safety to put into place a new "Silver Alert" system. The new system will be used to assist in locating missing senior citizens.

These are only a few of the more than 650 bills that go into effect on Sept. 1. There are many others that will in some way touch the daily lives of most Texans.