SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6009

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                 Transportation, March 4, 1999

Title:  An act relating to nonphoto identification cards for disabled parking.

Brief Description:  Authorizing nonphoto identification cards for disabled parking.

Sponsors:  Senators Oke and Haugen; by request of Department of Licensing.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  3/3/99, 3/4/99 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6009 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Costa, Eide, Finkbeiner, Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Morton, Oke, Sellar, Sheahan, T. Sheldon, Shin and Swecker.

Staff:  Reema Shawa (786-7301)

Background:  In 1998 SSB 6190 made significant changes to the disabled parking statute.  One of the requirements embodied in that legislation was for the Department of Licensing (DOL) to issue a picture identification card, in addition to the parking placard, which would bear the picture, name, and date of birth of the permit holder, along with the placard's serial number.  The purpose of this requirement was to create a document which tied the actual permit holder to the placard in use, thus assisting law enforcement in its effort to protect the rights of the legal permit holders.

The only feasible way to implement this requirement was to centralize the issuance of the placards and picture identification cards in the department's Licensing Service Offices (LSOs). Historically, parking placards have been issued at all DOL subagent locations, but because the issuance of a picture identification card was now required, this service had to be placed in the LSOs, as the subagents= offices were not equipped with cameras or other hardware necessary to produce a picture identification card.

According to the department, the addition of this program to the LSOs workload has had a serious effect on their ability to serve their licensing clientele in a timely manner, thus aggravating their already congested offices.  Because of this fact, they feel there needs to be some additional time allowed for them to determine the most efficient and effective process to implement and deliver a picture identification card to all permanent and temporary placard users, as well as to disabled license plate users.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The requirement on DOL to issue a picture identification card is temporarily removed to allow the department, in conjunction with the Governor's Committee on Disability Issues, to assess the options for issuing a picture identification card to every person qualifying for a permanent or temporary parking placard or a special disabled parking license plate.  The department must report its findings to the Legislative Transportation Committee no later than December 31, 2000.  The department is to issue photo identification cards to all permit holders by July 1, 2001.

During this time of assessment, the department is to issue non-photo identification cards by no later than January 1, 2000, to all of its permit holders, including temporary permits, that bears the name and date of birth of the permit holder, as well as the placard's serial number.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill did not establish when the department was to issue photo identification cards or non-photo identification cards.  The substitute bill establishes a deadline of January 1, 2000, for the implementation of the non-photo identification cards and July 1, 2001, for the photo identification cards.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 24, 1999.

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

Testimony For:  This bill will help relieve the long wait at the licensing service offices by moving all of the disabled permit customers back out to the sub-agent offices for their permit issuance and renewals.  Allowing the department until December 2000 to determine the most effective way of  implementing a picture identification card program for its disabled permit holds will ensure the development of efficient administrative processes that will benefit all concerned.

Testimony Against:  The existing law should not be amended and the department should continue issuing the photo identification cards to permit holders.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator Oke, prime sponsor; Al Brotche, Mason County Auditor; Jackie Burnett, Mason County; Sam Reed, Thurston County Auditor, County Auditor=s Assn.; Evelyn Barker, Dept. of Licensing; Carol Hahn (pro with amendments); CON: Joe Johnston, NW Chapter Paralyzed Veterans of America.