HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1254

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                        Law & Justice

Title:  An act relating to the destruction of driving records.

Brief Description:  Prohibiting destruction of driving records for alcohol or drug‑related offenses.

Sponsors:  Representatives Sterk, D. Sommers, Carrell, Mulliken, Delvin, Chandler, O'Brien and Bush.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Law & Justice:  1/29/97, 1/31/97 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Sheahan, Chairman; McDonald, Vice Chairman; Sterk, Vice Chairman; Costa, Ranking Minority Member; Constantine, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Carrell; Cody; Kenney; Lantz; Radcliff; Sherstad and Skinner.

Staff:  Bill Perry (786-7123).

Background:  The Department of Licensing (DOL) is required or authorized to keep a wide variety of records relating to motor vehicles and drivers.  The DOL is authorized to destroy some of these records after a specified period of time, or after they have been computerized or microfilmed.

Conviction records for vehicular homicide or vehicular assault are not to be destroyed and are to be maintained Apermanently.@  Conviction records for alcohol related offenses such as drunk driving are not to be destroyed until at least 10 years after conviction.

Summary of Bill:  The DOL is prohibited from destroying conviction records for alcohol related driving offenses.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 29, 1997.

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

Testimony For:  These records provide valuable information to law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges in making charging, plea bargaining, and sentencing decisions.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Sterk, prime sponsor.