SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6263

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Transportation, February 1, 2000

Title:  An act relating to drivers' licenses.

Brief Description:  Concerning the legal parents or guardians of minor drivers.

Sponsors:  Senators Zarelli, Brown, Haugen, Swecker and Johnson.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  1/25/2000, 2/1/2000 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6263 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Goings, Vice Chair; Benton, Costa, Eide, Heavey, Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Morton, Oke, Patterson, Prentice, Sheahan, T. Sheldon, Shin and Swecker.

Staff:  Jennifer Ziegler (786-7316)

Background:  An application for a driver's license for a person under the age of 18 must be signed by a parent or guardian with custody of the minor.  Currently, the Department of Licensing requires parents or guardians to provide the department with evidence of their relationship with the minor.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Department of Licensing must furnish a form that allows an adult to affirm in writing that he or she is the minor's parent or guardian and provide identification to the department.  No other documentation or proof of the adult's relationship to the minor is required.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  In the case of minor applicants applying for driver=s licenses, the parent or guardian must sign a  form that he or she has custody and provide identification to the department.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This is a common sense approach to the driver=s license process that protects the privacy of parents that have been through a divorce.

Testimony Against:  Additional evidence is required to prevent fraud in the driver=s license process.

Testified:  Senator Zarelli, prime sponsor (pro); Dee Scharf, Department of Licensing (con).