H-3800.2  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2859

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State of Washington      57th Legislature     2002 Regular Session

By Representative Nixon

Read first time 01/30/2002.  Referred to Committee on State Government.

Regarding counterfeit licenses, certificates, endorsements, and registrations.

    AN ACT Relating to governmental licenses, certificates, endorsements, and registrations; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that there is evidence that some state licenses and certificates are being counterfeited.  As a result, people without proper training and where required, background checks, are obtaining employment, often with our most vulnerable citizens.  Because of the ease of counterfeiting these documents, there are many opportunities for fraud, theft, and abuse.  Therefore, the legislature finds that in order to ensure the authenticity of these documents, there should be an inquiry into (1) requiring that governmental licenses, certificates, endorsements, and registrations be printed on paper that is resistant to counterfeiting and (2) a means for verifying such authenticity in real-time by internet or telephone.

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