Title: An act relating to driver's license examinations.

Brief Description: Allowing reciprocal waiver of driver's license exams.

Sponsors: Senators Haugen, Swecker, Kastama and Jacobsen; by request of Department of Licensing.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/21/05, 2/22/05 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Jacobsen, Vice Chair; Poulsen, Vice Chair; Swecker, Ranking Minority Member; Benson, Eide, Esser, Kastama, Mulliken, Oke, Spanel and Weinstein.

Staff: Janice Baumgardt (786-7319)

Background: Under current law, the Department of Licensing (DOL) may waive the knowledge and skill exams required of all applicants for a Washington driver's license if they are applying for the renewal of a driver's license. Additionally, DOL may waive the knowledge exam for applicants surrendering a valid driver's license issued by the person's previous home state.

Summary of Bill: DOL may waive the knowledge and/or skill exams for applicants who surrender a valid driver's license issued by the person's previous home state. Additionally, DOL may waive the knowledge and/or skill exams for applicants who provide verification of holding a valid driver's license from a foreign jurisdiction with which DOL has an informal reciprocal agreement.

DOL may enter into an informal agreement with other foreign licensing jurisdictions to waive the driver license examination requirements, provided the jurisdiction has procedures in place to verify the validity of the driver's licenses it issues and the jurisdiction has agreed to waive all or any part of the driver's license requirements for a Washington State licensed driver applying for a license in that jurisdiction.
      

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: This bill will help overseas military employees. This bill will allow the transfer of a driver's license as is already allowed in 39 other states.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Peter Teets, Department of Licensing; Brent Heinemann, Governor's Office.