Brief Description: Allowing alternative means of renewing driver's licenses.

Sponsors: Representatives Simpson, Jarrett and Rockefeller; by request of Department of Licensing.

Hearing Date: 01/28/04

Staff: Jill Satran (786-7315).

Background:

Currently, individuals renewing their driver's license or identicard must present their application to the Department of Licensing (DOL) in person. The exception to this requirement is that a driver's license may be extended or renewed by mail when the applicant is living out of the state at the time the license expires. A $5 fee is assessed on mail-in renewals.

Summary of Bill:

"Electronic commerce" is defined as including transactions conducted over the Internet, by telephone or by other electronic means.

This bill would allow applicants to renew their driver's license or identicard by mail, electronic commerce or other electronic means, if the DOL establishes rules to allow these alternative renewal methods. A driver or identicard holder would be limited to one alternative renewal before having to renew in person and an identicard holder could only renew through an alternative method if his or her existing identicard includes a photograph.

A person whose license has expired, or will expire, while he or she is living outside the state may apply for renewal by electronic commerce, regardless of whether the applicant renewed his or her driver's license by mail or electronic commerce when it last expired, if the DOL establishes rules to permit such renewal by mail.

Persons applying to renew an instruction permit, an agricultural driving permit, or a commercial driver license must submit their applications to the DOL in person.

The DOL is required to establish procedures to ensure that individuals renewing by mail or electronic commerce would be given the opportunity to register to vote.

HB 1681 also eliminates the existing $5 mail-in renewal fee and an exam currently required of individuals returning to the state who have renewed by mail, and provides for other technical amendments.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.