BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 720
Page 1
Date of Hearing: June 20, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair
SB 720 (Runner) - As Amended: March 22, 2011
SENATE VOTE : 36-0
SUBJECT : Driver's licenses: military spouses
SUMMARY : Extends the deadline for the spouses of military
personnel to renew their driver's licenses if they are out of
state due to military service. Specifically, this bill :
1)Provides that a California driver's license held by a spouse
of a person in the American Armed Forces continues in full
force and effect, so long as that person continues in the
service and remains absent from this state and the spouse
remains absent from this state, and for a period not to exceed
30 days following the date the person is honorably separated
from that service or the date that the person or the spouse
returns to this state, whichever is earlier, unless the
spouse's license was suspended, canceled, or revoked for cause
as provided by law.
2)Makes the license valid only if it is in the immediate
possession of the licensee and the licensee has in his or her
immediate possession discharge or separation papers of the
person in the Armed Forces.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Allows a California driver's license held by any person who
enters or is in the Armed Forces to continue in full force and
effect so long as the service continues and the person remains
absent from California, and for not to exceed 30 days
following the date on which the holder of such license is
honorably separated from such service or returns to
California, unless the license is sooner suspended, canceled,
or revoked for cause.
2)Makes the license valid only when it is in the immediate
possession of the licensee while driving and the licensee has
his discharge or separation papers, if he has been discharged
SB 720
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or separated from the service, in his immediate possession.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown. This bill was removed from the Senate
Appropriations Committee pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
COMMENTS : 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 online 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/her immediate possession.
This bill provides this same extension of validity of the
driver's license to a spouse of a person in the 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.
SB 720
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The author states 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. California does not currently extend the driver's license
term for military spouses, but the author's office notes that 15
states do automatically renew drivers' licenses to cover the
length of time that the spouses of active duty military
personnel are absent from those states. "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 spouse," he says.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
American Legion
AMVETS
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Military Officers Association of America
Opposition
None received
Analysis Prepared by : Howard Posner / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093