BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 531
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Date of Hearing: April 8, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair
AB 531 (Frazier) - As Amended: March 20, 2013
SUBJECT : Driver's Licenses: Veterans
SUMMARY : Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to offer a
driver's license or identification card printed with the word
"VETERAN" indicating the licensee or possessor of an
identification card is a military veteran. Specifically, this
bill :
1)Requires the application for a driver's license (DL) or
identification card (ID) to allow an applicant the option to
provide a "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active
Duty"(DD-214) in a manner determined by the Department of
Motor Vehicles (DMV).
2)Requires DMV to allow an applicant to present to DMV a
verification that a DD-214 has been issued from a county
veteran's service officer.
3) Upon providing a DD-214, allows the applicant to request DMV
to print the word "VETERAN" on a DL or ID.
4)Requires DMV, upon request by an applicant who provides a
DD-214, to print the word "VETERAN" on the face of a DL or ID.
5)Requires DMV to charge an additional fee to an applicant who
provides a DD-214 and makes the request to have the word
"VETERAN" printed on the applicant's DL or ID.
6)Extends the implementation date for the provisions specified
in this bill to January 1, 2015.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires a driver's license issued by DMV to state the class
of license for which the licensee has qualified and to contain
the distinguishing number assigned to the applicant, the date
of expiration, the true full name, age, and mailing address of
the licensee, a brief description and engraved picture or
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photograph of the licensee for the purpose of identification,
and space for the signature of the licensee.
2)Specifies the contents of a DL and requires the application
for a DL or ID to contain a space for an applicant to indicate
whether they have served in the armed forces and to give their
consent to be contacted regarding eligibility to receive state
or federal veteran benefits. Additionally requires DMV to
print the word "DONOR" on the face of a DL and ID to a person
who has indicated their intent to enroll in the Donate Life
California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry.
3)Requires DMV to collect this information and electronically
transmit to the Department of Veterans Affairs each relevant
applicant's true full name and mailing address.
4)Allows this information to be used by the Department of
Veterans Affairs for the purpose of assisting individuals to
access veterans' benefits and prohibits its dissemination
except as needed for that purpose.
FISCAL EFFECT : In similar legislation AB 1725 (Lowenthal) of
2012, the Assembly Appropriations Committee identified one-time
cost ranging from $700,000 to $1.5 million to revise DMV forms,
computer programming and DL designs. The analysis also
identified an additional $800,000 (approximate) in ongoing costs
to collect and process applications from qualified veterans at
DMV field offices.
COMMENTS : Veterans groups point out that as large numbers of
service members return from overseas deployments, they desire an
efficient means of proving their eligibility for benefits and
discounts (such as those available from Home Depot or Jiffy
Lube). When they are still in the military, they use their
military ID cards. Upon leaving the service they are issued a
paper discharge DD-214, containing a substantial amount of
personal information and intended for a person's private files,
and therefore not suitable for carrying around at all times.
Federal, state, and local governments all offer varying degrees
of benefits and services for veterans. The benefits and
services are earned by veterans as a result of their military
service. In the past, the DD-214 sufficed for veterans'
relatively infrequent experiences with the federal VA system.
However, in the last decade, numerous private, non-profit
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service providers have begun to offer a variety of services for
veterans, including; housing, mental health, drug counseling,
and financial, educational, and occupational assistance.
According to a recent San Diego Union Tribune article,
"California veterans may be losing out on $400 million in
federal benefits." This bill would provide an easy way for
veterans to identify themselves and potentially gain more timely
access these services.
In consideration of these potential advantages, 13 states have
enacted laws adding veteran's designations to driver's licenses:
Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts,
New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas,
and Utah. In October 2012, New York was the 13th state to enact
similar legislation.
Previous legislation identified several technical problems that
may arise with the implementation of this bill. For example,
both the face of the license and the license application will
need to be modified. Both of these documents are already
crowded with necessary information and data. The provision in
this bill to extend the implementation date may address these
technical problems by allowing DMV to include these
specifications when negotiating a new contract with their
vendors which is anticipated to be renewed in 2015.
Additionally, any new mandate that adds time to the in-person
license application process can be troublesome to DMV, which is
sensitive to the issue of wait times at its field offices.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
American Legion
American Veterans (AMVETS)
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
(CACVSO)
California State Commanders Veterans Council
National Guard Association of California
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Vietnam Veterans of America
Opposition
None on File
AB 531
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Analysis Prepared by : Manny Leon / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093