FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1077

                          C 24 L 98

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Specifying the official forms of establishing proof of identity.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by  Representatives Sterk, D. Sommers, Boldt and Sheahan).

House Committee on Law & Justice

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Background:  Certain agencies and entities require proof of identification for a variety of purposes.  For example, the Department of Licensing requires proof of identification before issuing a driver's license or an identicard.  Both the motor vehicles statutes and the Department of Licensing's rules establish the types of documents the department will recognize as showing proof of identification.  Absent any of those documents, the department may accept other documentation that clearly establishes the applicant's identity.  If the applicant cannot produce required documentation, the department will issue a license plainly labeled "not valid for identification purposes."

A class 1 civil infraction has a maximum penalty and default amount of $250 and is not a criminal offense.

Summary:   Any person or entity, other than those exempted, who issues an identification card that purports to identify the holder as a resident of this or any other state and that contains a name, photograph, and date of birth must label the card "not official proof of identification" in flourescent yellow ink, on the face of the card, and in not less than 14 point font.  The background color of the card must be a color other than that used for Washington State driver's licenses and identicards.  Certain persons and entities, such as government agencies and private employer's issuing identification cards, are exempt from this requirement.  Failure to comply is a class 1 civil infraction.

Votes on Final Passage:

House920

Senate470

Effective:June 11, 1998