FINAL BILL REPORT
ESSB 5815
C 57 L 22
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Implementing an identicard program to provide individuals a Washington state-issued identicard.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Cleveland, Salda?a, Hasegawa, Keiser, Kuderer, Liias, Lovelett, Lovick, Nobles, Trudeau and Wilson, C.).
Senate Committee on Transportation
House Committee on Transportation
Background:

The Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) issues driver licenses, endorsements, and identicards that are valid up to six years.  An identicard is a Washington identification card issued by DOL.

 

DOL must issue an identicard, containing a picture, to any applicant, provided the applicant:      

  • does not hold a valid Washington driver's license;         
  • proves the applicant's identity; and
  • pays the required statutory fee.

 

An identicard is distinctly designed so it is not confused with an official driver license, and it generally expires on the eighth anniversary of the applicant's birth date after issuance.  An applicant may renew an identicard by personally appearing at a DOL office, by mail, or by electronic commerce.

 

An at-cost identicard, based on the production costs rather than the usual $72 fee for an eight-year identicard, can be provided if the applicant is:

  • under the age of twenty-five and does not have a permanent residence address;
  • receiving public assistance; or
  • being discharged from certain state and local facilities.
Summary:

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the Department of Commerce, working in conjunction with DOL, must create and implement an identicard program to provide homeless individuals within Washington State a state-issued identicard.  Under the program, a homeless individual is eligible for a one-time, taxpayer-funded original or renewal identicard.

 

To be eligible for the taxpayer-funded identicard, the individual must:

  • show proof of identity;            
  • meet the definition of a sheltered or unsheltered homeless person;            
  • be expected to reside in Washington State; and            
  • not have a current and valid state-issued identicard or driver's license.
Votes on Final Passage:
Senate 49 0
House 94 3
Effective:

January 1, 2023