SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2440

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Transportation, February 17, 2000

Title:  An act relating to technical editing of driver licensing statutes.

Brief Description:  Making driver licensing laws more understandable.

Sponsors:  Representatives Mitchell, Fisher, Hankins, Edwards, Cooper, Ruderman, Pflug, Wood and Hurst.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/17/2000 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Goings, Vice Chair; Costa, Eide, Heavey, Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Morton, Oke, Patterson, Prentice, T. Sheldon, Shin and Swecker.

Staff:  Jennifer Ziegler (786-7316)

Background:  Some of the statutes relating to driver's licenses have been found by some persons to be difficult to read and understand.  This may be due to issues with the original drafting or with subsequent amendments to the statutes.

Summary of Bill:  HB 2440 continues the process which began last year by SHB 1294 (Chapter 6, laws of 1999).  HB 2440 continues the process of editing some of the driver's license statutes found in Chapter 46.20 in order to make the statutes easier to use.  None of the changes are substantive; that is, they do not alter any of the privileges, rights or responsibilities that citizens or the state have under the current statutes.

An intent section is included that explicitly states that the Legislature does not intend any substantive changes to the underlying statutes by enacting the clean-up legislation.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  It is important to make laws easy to understand.  The Department of Licensing worked with stakeholders and staff to develop these changes.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Clark Holloway, Dept. of Licensing (pro).