SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6643

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Transportation, February 3, 1998

Title:  An act relating to the name of record on a driver's license.

Brief Description:  Requiring the name of record on a driver's license.

Sponsors:  Senator Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/3/98 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Prince, Chair; Benton, Vice Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; Goings, Haugen, Heavey, Horn, Morton, Oke, Patterson, Rasmussen and Sellar.

Staff:  Paul Neal (786-7315)

Background:  Current law requires that persons provide documentary proof of their identity in order to receive a driver's license issued in their name.  However, a person can get a replacement license issued under a new name without providing proof of a legal name change.  This allows a person to obtain a driver's license that can be used to establish a false identity.

Summary of Bill:  A name of record is established, which is the name of the person when he or she first applies for a Washington State driver's license.  To change the name of record, a person must provide the same kind of documentation as that required to establish the name of record.  In addition, the rulemaking authority currently in statute allows the department to adopt rules that authorize other documents to establish a name change, such as a divorce decree specifying a name change or a legal name change adopted by a court.

This change makes it more difficult for a person to obtain a driver's license or identicard that displays a false name.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 28, 1998.

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

Testimony For:  This change would provide greater security for the driver=s license document.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator Oke, prime sponsor; Clark Holloway, DOL.