FINAL BILL REPORT

ESSB 5434

C 67 L 01

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Removing the photo requirement for special identification cards for persons issued disabled parking permits.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Oke and Haugen; by request of Department of Licensing).

Senate Committee on Transportation

House Committee on Transportation

Background:  In 1998, SSB 6190 made significant changes to the disabled parking statute.  One of the requirements embodied in that legislation was for the Department of Licensing (DOL) to issue a picture identification card, in addition to the parking placard, which would bear the picture, name, and date of birth of the permit holder, along with the placard's serial number.  The purpose of this requirement was to create a document which tied the actual permit holder to the placard in use, thus assisting law enforcement in its efforts to protect the rights of the legal permit holders.

The only feasible way to implement this requirement was to centralize the issuance of the placards and picture identification cards in the department's Licensing Service Offices (LSOs). Historically, parking placards have been issued at all DOL subagent locations, but because the issuance of a picture identification card was now required, this service had to be placed in the LSOs, as the subagents' offices were not equipped with cameras or other hardware necessary to produce a picture identification card.

According to the department, the addition of this program to the LSOs workload has had a serious effect on their ability to serve their licensing clientele in a timely manner, thus aggravating their already congested offices.  Because of this fact, they believe there should be additional time for them to determine the most efficient and effective process to implement and deliver a picture identification card to all permanent and temporary placard users, as well as to disabled license plate users.

In 1999, SB 6009 temporarily removed the requirement to issue a picture identification card to allow the department, in conjunction with the Governor's Committee on Disability Issues, to assess the options for issuing a picture identification card to every person qualifying for a permanent or temporary parking placard or a special disabled parking license plate.  The department was to report its findings to the Legislative Transportation Committee no later than December 31, 2000.  The department was to continue issuing photo identification cards to all permit holders by July 1, 2001.

As a result of the study conducted by DOL and the Governor's Committee on Disability Issues, DOL recommends eliminating the requirement of photographs to be included on the special identification cards.

Summary:  The requirement for photographs to be included on special identification cards for individuals who have disabled parking placards or license plates is eliminated.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate480

House     97 0

Effective:  July 22, 2001