HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  HB 1246

Title:  An act relating to utilizing drivers' licenses and identicards to prevent welfare fraud.

Brief Description:  Providing safeguards to prevent using drivers' licenses and identicards to commit welfare fraud.

Sponsors:  Representatives Boldt, K. Schmidt, Radcliff, Cooke, Cairnes, Robertson, Mulliken, O'Brien, L. Thomas and McMorris.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Meeting Date:  January 31, 1997.

Bill Analysis Prepared by:  Doug Ruth  (786-7134).

Background: The Washington administrative code requires that the department verify all factors of eligibility for public assistance, including the identity of applicants for public assistance.  The department verifies identity by requiring the applicants to provide either a state picture I.D., or in the alternative, a U.S. passport, a birth certificate, a voter registration card, or an affidavit from a disinterested party.  The applicant is also required to present a social security card to receive benefits. As required by federal law, the department cross checks the applicant=s social security number with the Internal Revenue Service=s database to insure identification.

The Department of Licensing requires applicants for identicards and driver=s licenses to present either a valid or recently expired driver=s license or permit, an identification card issued by  Washington or another state, an identification card issued by a federal or state agency, a military identification card, a passport, an immigration and naturalization service document, or, if the applicant is a minor, an affidavit of the applicant=s parent with supporting documentation.  If an applicant is unable to present any of these documents, the department may accept other documentation which clearly establishes the identity of the individual.

In the future, the department will also require an applicant to submit to a Afinger imaging@ process during renewal or application for a driver=s license.  The imaging process will scan applicants= finger prints and search the department=s database for matches.  If a person is in the database under a different name than the one given on the application, the department will not issue a license to that person.  On renewal of a license, the finger imaging process will compare the person=s new finger print image against the current finger print image in the database.

Summary of Bill:  No later than 90 days after the department of licensing adopts a finger imaging requirement for renewal or issuance of a driver=s license, the department of social and health service will only approve new or continued assistance to a recipient if the person posses a valid Washington driver=s license or identicard .

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested January 27, 1997.

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