BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 221
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Date of Hearing: May 13, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
221 (Dababneh) - As Amended April 29, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill directs the DMV to establish a pilot program to
develop and test a smartphone application that will display a
digital driver's license (DDL), to provide preliminary status
reports on the program to the Legislature by April 1 and
AB 221
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December 1, 2017, and to fully implement the DDL by July 1,
2018.
FISCAL EFFECT:
The DMV anticipates costs in the millions of dollars (Motor
Vehicle Account) to conduct a pilot program and fully implement
a DDL within the timelines specified in this bill. The
department notes that DDL technology has not yet been developed
and implemented in any other state, there is no product on the
market at this time that the department could purchase, and it
is not anticipated that any product, in a viable form, will be
available within the timeframe required.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, "people use their smart
phones every day to read the news, shop online, and check
their bank accounts. Using a tool that people are familiar
with, like a mobile application, to store their primary means
of identification will be a useful option for Californians."
2)Background. While several other states are considering the
idea of a DDL pilot program, Iowa is the only state that is
presently in the development phase of a mobile DDL
application. Begun In December 2014, the Iowa Department of
Transportation (IDOT) pilot program is currently in its
initial phase, working with application developers, the
Federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and local law
enforcement to develop an application that can be effectively
used but also meet stringent security standards. IDOT
representatives have indicated phase two is anticipated to
roll out in late 2015 and will encompass a test group of
in-house IDOT staff being provided a smart phone with the DDL
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application. This test group will then use the DDL for
approximately six months as a supplement to their original
driver's license for specific program purposes.
Several implementation concerns that have arisen with IDOT's
DDL pilot, regarding how a mobile device will be handled by
law enforcement during a traffic stop, how information will be
stored on the application, and compliance with federal Real ID
requirements.
Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)
319-2081