SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1237
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Transportation, March 31, 2011
Title: An act relating to registering with the federal selective service when applying for an instruction permit, intermediate license, driver's license, or identicard.
Brief Description: Concerning federal selective service registration upon application for an instruction permit, intermediate license, driver's license, or identicard.
Sponsors: House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Haler, Clibborn, Klippert and Moeller).
Brief History: Passed House: 2/22/11, 84-10.
Committee Activity: Transportation: 3/09/11, 3/31/11 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION |
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; White, Vice Chair; King, Ranking Minority Member; Fain, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Delvin, Eide, Ericksen, Hill, Hobbs, Litzow, Nelson, Prentice, Ranker, Sheldon, Shin and Swecker.
Staff: Janice Baumgardt (786-7319)
Background: The federal Military Selective Service Act of 1948 requires men between the ages of 18 and 26 to register with the Selective Service System (SSS) if they are United States citizens or non-citizens residing in the United States, unless they are aliens lawfully admitted to the United States as non-immigrants. Failure to register with the Selective Service System is a felony punishable by up to five years imprisonment, a maximum $250,000 fine, or both. In addition to the criminal penalties, registration with the SSS is required for men to remain eligible for federal student loans and grants, many federal jobs, certain job training benefits, and U.S. citizenship for male immigrants seeking citizenship.
Summary of Bill: All male applicants for driver's licenses, instruction permits, intermediate licenses, and identicards who are under the age of 26 must be given the opportunity to register with the SSS, the option to indicate they have already registered, or the option to decline to register. When an applicant indicates he would like to register with the SSS, the Department of Licensing (DOL) must forward the personal information to the SSS within ten days. An applicant who declines to register may not be denied a license, permit, or identicard if the applicant meets all of the other requirements to receive the license, permit, or identicard. DOL may provide SSS registration information to applicants who decline to register who indicate they would like such information.
The DOL is prohibited from creating a record indicating that an applicant declined to register. Any DOL information that indicates that an applicant declined to register is exempt from the disclosure requirements of the Public Records Act, and the DOL is prohibited from disclosing the information to any other government agency.
The requirements placed on the DOL are subject to the availability of funds appropriated for the purpose of the activities contained in the act.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on January 1, 2012.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Washington is one of a few states falling behind in compliance with the SSS registration requirements. Similar legislation has been enacted in 40 other states with good success. The SSS will reimburse DOL $20,000 for implementing this.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Ted Wicorek, Veterans Legislative Coalition; Bob Rudolph, Selective Service System.