SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5428

As Passed Senate, February 17, 2004

Title: An act relating to renewal of driver's licenses and identicards by alternative means.

Brief Description: Allowing alternative means of renewing driver's licenses.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Highways & Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Finkbeiner, Haugen, Horn and Shin; by request of Department of Licensing).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 2/12/03, 2/25/03 [DP]; 1/28/04 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 3/16/03, 47-1; 2/17/04, 37-11.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5428 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Horn, Chair; Swecker, Vice Chair; Esser, Haugen, Kastama, Mulliken, Murray, Oke and Poulsen.

Staff: Kimberly Johnson (786-7346)

Background: Currently, persons applying for renewal of a driver's license or identicard present the application to the Department of Licensing (DOL) in person. However, a person living outside the state whose driver's license has expired, or will expire, may apply for renewal by mail.

Generally, a driver's license and identicard are valid for a period of five years.

Summary of Bill: "Electronic commerce" is defined to include transactions made over the internet, by telephone, or other electronic means.

A driver's license may be renewed by mail or electronic commerce if: (1) DOL permits the renewal by rule; and (2) the applicant did not renew the driver's license by mail or electronic commerce when it last expired.

An identicard may be renewed by mail or electronic commerce if: (1) DOL permits the renewal by rule; (2) the applicant did not renew the identicard by mail or electronic commerce when it last expired; and (3) the identicard includes a photograph of the identicard holder.

A person whose license has expired, or will expire, while he or she is living outside the state, may apply for renewal by electronic commerce, regardless of whether the applicant renewed his or her driver's license by mail or electronic commerce when it last expired, if DOL permits such renewal by rule.

DOL is authorized to accept credit card payment for drivers' licenses and identicards.

The department's authority to issue drivers' licenses and identicards via the mail or internet is subject to funding being provided by June 30, 2004 in the omnibus transportation appropriations act.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: We would like to provide the citizens of this state with a more efficient method of renewing their driver's license. This method will be just as safe and secure as the current method of providing renewals of driver's licensing. The single most effective way of preventing financial fraud is to provide a secure identification document.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Denny Eliason, Washington Bankers Association; Fred Stephens, Department of Licensing; Denise Movius, Department of Licensing.