Title: An act relating to abstracts of driving records.

Brief Description: Revising the provisions relating to abstracts of driving records.

Sponsors: Senator Swecker.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 02/01/06, 2/6/06 [DPS, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6684 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Jacobsen, Vice Chair; Benson, Ranking Minority Member; Berkey, Esser, Kastama, Mulliken, Oke, Sheldon, Swecker and Weinstein.

Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senator Benton.

Staff: Dory On (786-7321)

Background: The director of the Department of Licensing maintains a case record on every person licensed to operate a motor vehicle in Washington. The case record (driving record) contains information regarding certain traffic violations committed by the driver and accident reports relating to the driver, as furnished to the director by courts and law enforcement officers.

The director may furnish a driving record abstract only to: 1) the individual named in the abstract; 2) an employer or prospective employer, or a volunteer organization with which the named individual has applied to transport children, seniors or disabled persons; 3) a transit authority representative checking prospective vanpool drivers for risk management needs; 4) an insurance carrier covering an employer or prospective employer; 5) the individual's insurance carrier; 6) an insurance carrier to which the individual has applied; 6) an alcohol/drug treatment agency to which the individual has applied or been assigned; or 7) city or county prosecuting attorneys.

Certain details, including the period of time covered in the furnished abstract, varies depending upon who requests the record. The requester's use of the abstract is limited in certain circumstances.

Release of an abstract of the driving record of an employee, prospective employee, or prospective volunteer requires a statement signed by the employee authorizing release, and by the employer attesting that the information is necessary to determine whether the licensee should be employed to operate a commercial vehicle or school bus.

Washington and many local governments within the state self-insure for property and liability risks, including liabilities as may arise from the use of government-owned vehicles.

Summary of Substitute Bill: The list of those to whom the director of the Department of Licensing may furnish a driving record abstract is expanded to include state colleges, universities and agencies for employment and risk management purposes, and units of local government that are authorized to self-insure. These added entities are not required to furnish an attestation that the information is necessary to determine whether the licensee should be employed to operate a commercial vehicle or school bus, or an employee's signature authorizing release of the abstract.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The bill as referred to committee was not considered.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: This bill takes effect on August 1, 2006.

Testimony For: None.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: No one.