SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 2939
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Transportation, March 1, 2010
Title: An act relating to notations on driver abstracts that a person was not at fault in a motor vehicle accident.
Brief Description: Concerning notations on driver abstracts that a person was not at fault in a motor vehicle accident.
Sponsors: House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Dammeier, Orwall, Parker, Probst, Morrell, Kessler, Smith and Kenney).
Brief History: Passed House: 2/12/10, 95-0.
Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/25/10, 3/01/10 [DPA].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION |
Majority Report: Do pass as amended.
Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Marr, Vice Chair; Swecker, Ranking Minority Member; Becker, Berkey, Delvin, Eide, Hatfield, Jacobsen, Kastama, Kauffman, Kilmer, King and Sheldon.
Staff: Janice Baumgardt (786-7319)
Background: The Department of Licensing (DOL) maintains a case record on every person licensed to operate a motor vehicle in Washington. These case records, or abstracts, contain information relating to a person's driving record. Current law restricts the distribution of abstracts to certain persons and uses.
The current abstract statutes are challenging for the reader to follow. As such, the 2009-11 biennial transportation budget directed DOL to submit to the Legislature draft legislation that rewrites the statutes in plain language.
Summary of Bill: The bill as referred to committee not considered.
Summary of Bill (Recommended Amendments): DOL is required to indicate in a driving abstract obtained for employment purposes, that an individual was not at fault in a particular accident if the individual named in the abstract provides DOL with court records ruling the individual named in the abstract was not at fault.
The abstract statutes are written in plain language to assist the reader.
The bill is null and void unless funded in the transportation budget.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on October 31, 2010.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This bill makes things more fair for those who were in an accident where the other party was at fault.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Dammeier, prime sponsor.