SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5348

                    As of February 27, 1995

Title:  An act relating to disclosure of drivers' license records.

Brief Description:  Limiting disclosure of drivers' license information.

Sponsors:  Senators Cantu, Fraser and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Law & Justice:  2/27/95.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Staff:  Lidia Mori (786-7755)

Background:  The Department of Licensing is restrained from providing access to lists of individuals requested for commercial purposes.  Noncommercial purposes include requests from political parties, the media, and sometimes colleges that are engaged in studies.

If a person requests the address of another individual and has that person's name and date of birth, the Department of Licensing will sell the person's address for a nominal fee.

There is concern that lists of individual holders of drivers' licenses are disclosed by the Department of Licensing.  Proponents of the bill believe that personal information that is supplied by individuals to the Department of Licensing should be treated in a confidential manner.

Summary of Bill:  Applications for driver's licenses, permits, or identicards may not be made available to the public for  inspection or copying.  In addition, the department may not provide access to its files concerning an applicant's, permittee's or licensee's date of birth or physical or mental characteristics, and may not provide access to lists of holders of drivers licenses or permits or identicards, including those persons' addresses. 

The department is directed to make records and information available to the federal, state, local, or Canadian government agency or educational institution, or its commercial agents or contractors for use in the performance of its duties.  The same records are also available to persons permitted by law to obtain access or to an individual with a civil suit.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 27, 1995.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.