Washington State House of Representatives	BILL ANALYSIS
Transportation Committee

ESSB 5434

Brief Description:  Removing the photo requirement for special identification cards for persons issued disabled parking permits.

Sponsors:  By Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Oke and Haugen; by request of Department of Licensing).

Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill

$Removes the requirement for the Department of Licensing to issue a photo identification card to its disabled parking permit holders by July 1, 2001.

$Makes a technical amendment removing outdated language regarding a study that was to be concluded by December 31, 2000.

Hearing Date:  3/27/01

Staff:  Reema Griffith (786‑7301).

Background: 

In 1998 the Legislature passed 2SSB 6190 which made significant changes to the state=s disabled parking law.  One of those changes required the Department of Licensing (DOL) to issue a photo identification card to all of its disabled parking permit holders to aid law enforcement in determining if a parking placard in question was being used by the person it was issued to.  The department implemented this requirement by having all permit holders come into DOL licensing service offices around the state to obtain their new photo ID cards.  In doing so, it was discovered that there were various access and accommodation issues along with a noticeable increase in wait times due to the large number of permit holders needing the new ID card.  

In response to this outcome, SSB 6009 was passed which temporarily removed the photo identification card requirement to allow for an 18-month study to determine a more appropriate and effective way of implementing a photo identification card program, with a report due back to the Legislature by December 31, 2000.  In the interim, the department was required to issue a special non-photo identification card to all permit holders, which continues to be in effect today.

The department=s report back to the Legislature provided three viable photo identification card implementation options with costs ranging from $1.7 - $6.9 million per biennium.  In contrast, to continue issuing the current non-photo identification card would cost the department $159,000 for the 2001-03 biennium.  The report also indicated that law enforcement was experiencing relative enforcement success even though they did not have a photo available to them.  Therefore, it was recommended that the department continue its current practice of issuing non-photo identification cards to its permit holders.

Summary of Bill: 

Removes the requirement for the DOL to issue a photo identification card to its disabled parking permit holders by July 1, 2001.  By removing this language the current language is left in effect which requires the department to issue a non-photo identification card to its permit holders.

Outdated language is stricken which required the department to work in conjunction with the Governor=s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment to assess options for issuing a photo identification card to permit holders and report the findings to the Legislature by December 31, 2000.  This report was delivered to the House and Senate Transportation Committees in December 2000.

Appropriation:  The sum of $159,023 for the 2001-03 biennium.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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