BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: sb 720
SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: runner
VERSION: 3/22/11
Analysis by: Carrie Cornwell FISCAL: yes
Hearing date: March 29, 2011
SUBJECT:
Drivers' licenses: spouses of military personnel
DESCRIPTION:
This bill extends the validity of a driver's license of the
spouse of a person in the military while the spouse and the
member of the military are absent from the state.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law requires that to drive a motor vehicle on a
highway, street, or off-street parking facility a person must
hold a valid driver's license.
To receive an original driver's license, a person applies and
pays the required fee to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV),
provides proof of legal presence in the United States plus other
specified information, and must take and pass a written driver's
test, a behind-the-wheel driving test, and a vision test. A
driver's license is valid for a period of five years at which
time the driver must apply to DMV for a renewal. In many
instances, the driver may apply on line or via the mail for a
renewal. For every third renewal (i.e., every 15 years) or
under other specified circumstances related to age or driving
record, the driver must visit a DMV office to be re-examined and
have a new photograph taken.
Existing law makes a California driver's license held by a
person in the United States Armed Forces valid for the entire
period that person is absent from the state so long as service
continues and up to 30 days following the date the person is
honorably separated from military service or until the date the
person returns to California. During the period after
discharge, in order for the license to remain valid, the person
must have both the license and discharge or separation papers in
his or her immediate possession.
SB 720 (RUNNER) Page 2
This bill provides this same extension of validity of the
driver's license to a spouse of a person in the United State
Armed Forces while the member of the military and his or her
spouse are absent from the state, provided that the military
member remains in the service and for up to 30 days following
the date the military member is honorably separated from that
service or spouse returns to California, whichever occurs first.
During the period after discharge, in order for the license to
remain valid, the spouse must have both the license and a copy
of the member of the Armed Force's discharge or separation
papers in his or her immediate possession.
COMMENTS:
1.Purpose . The author notes that it is longstanding tradition
in our nation to extend benefits to members of the Armed
Services to make life easier and less worrisome when they are
out of state or country defending the nation. Likewise,
military spouses often move with the service member and life
can be stressful and busy. Taking the task of renewing a
license or having to get a driver's license in the new state
off the to-do list is a small step the state can take to make
military life easier for both the service member and their
dependents. California does not currently extend this benefit
to military spouses, but she notes that 15 states
automatically renew drivers' licenses to cover the length of
time that active duty military personnel and their spouses are
absent from those states.
2.DMV process . When a licensed driver on active military duty
applies to the DMV to extend the validity of his or her
license past its expiration date, DMV requests that driver
provide, usually via fax, a copy of his or her orders or a
copy of his or military identification card. Once this
documentation is received, DMV provides a license-sized card
that explains to traffic officers in other jurisdictions that
under California law this person's license remains valid
during the period of his or her military service out of state
and for 30 days after discharge, during which time the driver
must also provide a copy of his or her discharge papers with
the license to make it valid.
SB 720 (RUNNER) Page 3
DMV reports that in 2010, it extended the validity of
approximately 1,000 driver's licenses of military personnel
under its authority in existing law. This number has
decreased substantially since DMV has allowed for driver's
license renewals online, a service that is generally available
to drivers with clean records who are not due for a new
photograph.
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the Committee before noon on
Wednesday, March 23,
2011)
SUPPORT: None received.
OPPOSED: None received.