SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6217

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, January 18, 2010

Title: An act relating to retroactively applying certain intermediate license law amendments made during the 2009 legislative session.

Brief Description: Retroactively applying certain intermediate license law amendments made during the 2009 legislative session.

Sponsors: Senator Rockefeller.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/13/10, 1/18/10 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6217 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Marr, Vice Chair; Swecker, Ranking Minority Member; Becker, Benton, Berkey, Delvin, Eide, Hatfield, Jacobsen, Kastama, Kauffman, Kilmer, King, Ranker and Sheldon.

Staff: Janice Baumgardt (786-7319)

Background: Under current law, intermediate drivers license (IDL) holders have several restrictions placed upon them:

Prior to the enactment of Substitute Senate Bill (SSB) 5469, which was passed in the 2009 Legislative Session, after 12 months of holding the IDL, the above restrictions were lifted if the ID holder:

In 2009 these statutes were amended so that being in an accident is no longer grounds for denying lifting the restrictions if there is another party to the accident and the other party was cited in connection with the accident.

Summary of Bill: The bill as referred to committee not considered.

Summary of Bill (Recommended Substitute): The IDL statute revisions made in 2009, via SSB 5469, are retroactive to two years prior to the effective date of this bill.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The Legislature wisely chose to lift the IDL restrictions for those who were in accidents through no fault of their own. Out of fairness this legislation should be applied retroactively because some of those under the age of 18 are still unfairly affected.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Rockefeller, prime sponsor; Christina Law, citizen.