HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1813

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 aligning existing definitions and practices to establish a uniform process for updating addresses of record and make conforming amendments to statutes administered by the department of licensing.

Brief Description: Aligning existing definitions and practices to establish a uniform process for updating addresses of record and make conforming amendments to statutes administered by the department of licensing.

Sponsors: Representatives Kloba and Harmsworth; by request of Department of Licensing.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation: 2/13/17, 2/15/17 [DPS].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

Resolves technical issues in law to assist in the implementation of the Department of Licensing's (DOL) Business and Technology Modernization project.
Establishes a uniform process for updating addresses of record on file with the DOL.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 25 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Farrell, Vice Chair; Fey, Vice Chair; Wylie, Vice Chair; Orcutt, Ranking Minority Member; Hargrove, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Harmsworth, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chapman, Gregerson, Hayes, Irwin, Kloba, Lovick, McBride, Morris, Ortiz-Self, Pellicciotti, Pike, Riccelli, Rodne, Shea, Stambaugh, Tarleton, Van Werven and Young.

Staff: Patricia Hasan (786-7292).

Background:

The Department of Licensing (DOL) is involved in a Business and Technology Modernization project to replace their legacy driver and vehicle information technology system with a new Driver and Vehicle System (DRIVES). In the process of carrying out this project, the DOL uncovered technical issues in state law that need to be resolved prior to DRIVES implementation. The DOL completed the replacement of the vehicle-related systems portion of DRIVES in December 2016. The driver-related systems are expected to be completed in June 2018.

State law does not provide change of address guidelines for persons applying for a certificate of title or a vehicle registration. Whenever any person who has received a driver's license or identicard moves from the address listed on the license or identicard application, the person is required to notify the DOL within 10 days using a form provided by the DOL. A vessel owner must notify the DOL within 15 days of a change of address.

If a registered vehicle owner's registration certificate is lost, stolen, mutilated, destroyed, or illegible, the owner must apply for a duplicate registration certificate. Replacement registration tabs cost $1 for each pair of tabs or windshield emblem.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

Technical changes are made to state law:

amends the definition of a horseless carriage license plate from a motor vehicle that is more than 40 years old to a vehicle that is at least 40 years old;
amends the list of reasons a person must apply for a duplicate vehicle registration certificate to include when the person is applying for a replacement license tab or windshield emblem;
allows for the purchase of a single vehicle tab in instances of replacement where a vehicle only requires one plate;
corrects a 2010 drafting error made regarding the distribution of the farm vehicle reduced gross weight fee;
restores language authorizing the DOL to maintain motor vehicle accident records; and
clarifies which service fee is deposited into the Capital Vessel Replacement Account.

A general procedure for establishing and updating the name and address of record for applicants of a driver's license, identicard, certificate of title, vehicle or vessel registration, or other permit is created. If a person changes their name or address, they must notify the DOL in writing or through other means as decided by rule of the DOL within 10 days. Any notice regarding the validity of a driver's license, commercial driver's license, permit, driving privilege, identicard, certificate of title, or vehicle or vessel registration mailed by the DOL to an address of record of the applicant or holder is effective even if the applicant or holder failed to receive the notice. Additionally, the DOL may not change the name or address of record of a person without first verifying their identity.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill clarifies which service fee is deposited into the Capital Vessel Replacement Account when fees are collected by the DOL, county auditor, other agent, or subagent upon accepting a report of sale or a transitional ownership record.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The changes are technical tweaks that will make changing names and addresses on file with the DOL more efficient. With their new system, the DOL is able to link driver's license records to vehicle registration records, so that when a person requests a change of address for one, the address change is applied to both. This will make the process much easier and simpler for customers.

Customers will now be able to change their names and/or addresses for driver's licenses and vehicle registrations using one form instead of two.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Kloba, prime sponsor; and Stephanie Sams, Department of Licensing.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.