Texas added more jobs than any other state in the nation from December 2022 to December 2023, achieving 34 straight months of job growth. Yet, amid this remarkable post-pandemic economic resilience, a critical barrier persists in the Failure to Appear/Failure to Pay (FTAP) Program, administered by private contractor OmniBase Services of Texas. This program restricts driver’s licenses based on individuals’ inability to pay fines associated with minor offenses like traffic offenses, hindering economic opportunity in San Antonio and Bexar County.
In 2019, Texas repealed the statewide debt-based driver’s license suspension program Texas Driver Responsibility Program. However, many municipalities and counties, including San Antonio and Bexar County, still participate in the very similar FTAP program. This system undermines economic growth and perpetuates inequality.
Small businesses are the lifeblood of San Antonio’s economy, yet they face a daunting labor shortage exacerbated by OmniBase’s grip on the workforce. With 178,000 active OmniBase holds in San Antonio and Bexar County, businesses are deprived of essential talent, and tens of thousands of residents face an unnecessary barrier to securing and keeping employment.
These holds disproportionately impact low-income communities and people of color. A 2024 Texas Appleseed brief finds the 10 zip codes with the highest concentration of holds in San Antonio/Bexar County have an average median household income of $37,599, far below the 2022 median household income for San Antonio ($59,593) and Bexar County ($67,275).
Transportation is vital for employment, with a valid driver’s license having been found to be a greater predictor of employment than a high school diploma. The connection between a valid driver’s license and employment is clear in San Antonio, where 80% of residents report driving to work. Yet, the OmniBase Program places a significant barrier between individuals and job opportunities, perpetuating economic inequity.
San Antonio’s vision for inclusive economic development cannot flourish under the shadow of OmniBase. It is imperative San Antonio and Bexar County chart a new course by refraining from renewing their OmniBase contracts and embracing strategies that prioritize equitable economic opportunity. By implementing alternative strategies to incentivize court appearances and clear cases – strategies like ensuring text message reminders and court summons forms are client-friendly, allowing for community service, and providing alternative payment options – we can unleash the untapped potential of our workforce, fostering a more just and prosperous future for all.
Self-reported data from more than 800 Texas courts also finds cities using OmniBase are collecting nearly $50 less per court case than cities not using the program. The link between a valid driver’s license and gainful employment is clear. The link between the OmniBase program and increased court appearances and revenues — its stated purpose — is not.
The City of San Antonio and Bexar County are implementing important workforce development and economic recovery programs post-pandemic, with a focus on creating opportunities for all. For these initiatives to succeed, we must eliminate counterproductive barriers to employment.
As the OmniBase contracts come up for renewal this fall, our community stands at a crossroads. We must choose the path of economic opportunity, one that empowers residents to reclaim their licenses and chart their own paths to prosperity.
If you are currently struggling with an OmniBase hold or want to learn more about the detrimental impact this program is having on our community, join us at a Driver’s License Recovery Community Event, on Saturday, June 8 from 12 to 4 p.m. at St. Mary’s Center for Legal and Social Justice. Texas Fair Defense Project will be hosting a “Know Your Rights” presentation and pro-bono attorneys will be onsite to help with resolving your holds/unpaid tickets. Coalition members from Texas Appleseed, Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, Financial Health Pathways, and All of Us or None will also be on hand to offer information and resources.
Let’s renew the driver’s licenses of San Antonians, not OmniBase contracts, and pave the way for a future where every resident has the opportunity to thrive on the road to economic empowerment.
