SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5364
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Transportation, February 20, 2001
Title: An act relating to drivers' licenses and identicards.
Brief Description: Modifying drivers' license and identicard provisions.
Sponsors: Senators Horn, Haugen and Benton.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/7/01, 2/20/01 [DPS].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5364 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Eide, Finkbeiner, Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Kastama, McAuliffe, McDonald, Oke, Patterson, T. Sheldon and Shin.
Staff: Dean Carlson (786‑7305)
Background: The federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (welfare reform) made significant changes to the child support enforcement system, including increasing the use of Social Security numbers on license applications to improve tracking of obligors.
In 1998, the Washington State Legislature passed ESSB 6418 to conform with federal requirements. Subsequently Congress postponed the deadline for implementation of state collection of Social Security numbers on noncommercial drivers' licenses until October 1, 2000, or such earlier date as the state may select. In 1999, ESSB 6020 was passed eliminating the requirement to collect Social Security numbers on noncommercial drivers licenses until required to do so by federal legislation (October 1, 2000).
RCW 23.23.150 states that licensing agencies can not display a Social Security number on a licensing document.
Summary of Substitute Bill: The collection of Social Security numbers by licensing agencies for applicants of noncommercial drivers licenses is required.
The contract for a vendor contracting with the Department of Licensing to provide drivers license and identicard services must contain the following language: ?Drivers' licenses and identicards must not contain: (1) Driver Social Security number in either visible or machine readable form; or (2) driver fingerprints or thumbprints.@
Technical changes are made, eliminating the language extending the time period for the requirement to collect Social Security numbers on noncommercial driver's license applications.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The intent of a portion of the bill was to require the Department of Licensing to collect the Social Security numbers for individuals applying for a noncommercial driver=s license in order to meet federal requirements. The proposed substitute accomplishes this.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 6, 2001.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: This bill puts us in compliance with federal requirements. Vendors need to be aware of the sensitivity in regard to Social Security numbers.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Senator Horn, prime sponsor.