SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6644

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Transportation, February 6, 1996

Title:  An act relating to release of driving records to employers, prospective employers, and their agents.

Brief Description:  Expanding release of driving records.

Sponsors:  Senators Cantu and A. Anderson.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  1/31/96, 2/6/96 [DP, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Owen, Chair; Goings, Oke, Prentice, Prince, Rasmussen, Sellar, Thibaudeau and Wood.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senator Heavey, Vice Chair.

Staff:  Jennifer Joly (786-7305)

Background:  Upon payment of $4.50, a driving record abstract covering the last three years may be obtained from the Department of Licensing (DOL).

Currently, drivers' abstracts may only be furnished to the following individuals or entities: (1) the individual named in the abstract; (2) an employer; (3) insurance carriers that cover the employer or a prospective employer; (4) insurance carriers that cover the named individual; (5) insurance carriers to which the named individual has applied; (6) alcohol/drug assessment or treatment agencies approved by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to which the named individual has applied or been assigned for evaluation or treatment; or (7) city and county prosecuting attorneys. 

Current law does allow agents, acting on behalf of insurance carriers, to obtain drivers' abstracts. However, agents acting on behalf of employers or prospective employers, such as employment screening agencies, are not permitted to obtain drivers' abstracts.

Summary of Bill: Agents acting on behalf of employers or prospective employers may procure certified abstracts of driving records. 

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Forty-eight other states permit agents acting on behalf of employers, or prospective employers, to obtain employee driving records.  If ready access to driving records is made available to employment screening agencies, they can help provide for quick turnarounds on hiring decisions; this aids both prospective employees and employers.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator Cantu, prime sponsor; Mary Ahearn, HIRE Northwest; Gary Smith, Independent Business Assn.