HB 2367

HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2367

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by House Committee On:
Transportation

Title: An act relating to enhancing the security of driver licenses.

Brief Description: Enhancing the security of drivers' licenses.

Sponsors: Representatives Roach, Hurst, Curtis, Ericks, Rodne, Lovick, O'Brien, Schindler, Haler, Warnick, Takko, Orcutt, Newhouse, McDonald, Condotta, Jarrett, Ahern, McCune and Kelley.

Brief History:

Transportation: 3/1/07, 3/2/07 [DPS].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

Requires the Department of Licensing (DOL) to mail driver's licenses issued to first-time applicants to a valid Washington address, unless the applicant is active duty military or otherwise qualifies for an exception under the DOL rules.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 22 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Flannigan, Vice Chair; Jarrett, Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Armstrong, Campbell, Eddy, Ericksen, Hailey, Hankins, Hudgins, Kristiansen, Lovick, Rodne, Rolfes, Sells, Simpson, Springer, B. Sullivan, Upthegrove, Wallace and Wood.

Staff: Teresa Berntsen (786-7301).

Background:

An applicant for a driver's license or identicard must provide the Department of Licensing (DOL) with one of the following pieces of documentation that contains a signature and photograph of the applicant:

a valid or recently expired driver's license or instruction permit;
a state identification card;
a government-issued employee identification card;
a military identification card;
a United States passport; or
an Immigration and Naturalization Service form.

If the applicant is unable to provide the required documentation, the DOL may waive the requirement if it finds that other documentation establishes the identity of the applicant.

A person applying for a driver's license or instruction permit must provide, among other things, their Washington residence address.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

When mailing driver's licenses to first-time applicants, the DOL must mail to a valid Washington address, unless the applicant is active duty military personnel. The DOL may adopt rules to make exceptions to this requirement when the agency has determined the applicants are residents of Washington, but for valid reasons shown, require the license to be mailed to a location outside the state.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The following requirements are removed:

the requirement that the documentation provided by an applicant for a driver's license or identicard when the DOL has waived the standard documentation requirements must include a photograph of the applicant;
the requirement that applicants for a driver license or identicard must provide evidence of principal Washington residence; and
the requirement that passports presented as an identifying document contain a valid United States visa or other identifying mark indicating legal presence in the United States.

When mailing driver's licenses to first-time applicants, the DOL must mail to a valid Washington address, unless the applicant is active duty military personnel. The DOL may adopt rules to make exceptions to this requirement when the agency has determined the applicants are residents of Washington, but for valid reasons shown, require the license to be mailed to a location outside the state.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) United States Air Marshals at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport are seeing persons coming into Washington to obtain a driver's license, because it is easy to get a driver's license in Washington. This situation presents security and safety issues. The Washington driver's licenses are being used to receive other forms of identification, sometimes under assumed identities.

(Opposed) Concerns regarding privacy and storage of documents are addressed through the proposed substitute bill.

(Information only) The legislation is a step in the right direction toward improving the security of Washington driver's licenses.

Persons Testifying:

(In support) Representative Roach, prime sponsor; and Bruce Bryda and Gabriel Abaglo, Federal Air Marshals.

(Opposed) Jennifer Shaw, American Civil Liberties Union of Washington.

(Information only) Liz Luce and Becky Loomis, Washington State Department of Licensing.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.