BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1946
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Date of Hearing: April 4, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Jim Frazier, Chair
AB 1946
(Hadley) - As Amended March 15, 2016
SUBJECT: Driver's licenses
SUMMARY: Repeals the $5 fee charged by the Department of Motor
Vehicles (DMV) when issuing a driver's license (DL) or
identification card (ID) with a veteran's designation.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Requires DMV to issue a DL to an applicant when the department
determines that the applicant is lawfully entitled to a
license.
2)Requires the applicant for a DL or ID to pay a number of fees
to DMV associated with the issuance of the DL or ID.
3)Allows an applicant for a DL or ID to request the word
"VETERAN" to be printed on the face of the DL or ID, subject
to certain requirements including the payment of an additional
$5 fee.
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FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: AB 935 (Frazier), Chapter 644, Statutes of 2014,
required DMV to issue a DL or ID with a veteran's designation to
an applicant that meets specified conditions. AB 935 also
authorized DMV to collect a fee of $5, eligible for adjustment
up to $15, in order to offset the department's reasonable costs
in processing and issuing a request for a DL or ID with a
veteran's designation. This bill would repeal that fee.
The author contends that, because the veteran's designation on a
DL or ID is a critical substitute for the use of a Certificate
of Release or Discharge from Active Duty for proving veteran
status, access to this designation by veterans should have as
few obstacles as possible. The author also points out that no
fee is charged for an organ or tissue donor designation on a DL
or ID, or when DMV facilitates a DL or ID applicant's voter
registration. While no fee is required for the organ and tissue
donor designation, an applicant for that designation may make a
voluntary contribution of $2 with their application, and DMV is
authorized use these donations to cover its actual
administrative costs associated with providing the organ and
tissue donor designation.
Committee Concerns: According to the Legislative Analyst's
Office, the Motor Vehicle Account (MVA), created to support the
state's activities to administer and enforce laws regulating the
operation and registration of vehicles used on public streets
and highways, is experiencing a shortfall that could result in
the fund's insolvency. The fee collected in the veteran's
designation transaction supports the MVA. As such, any
reduction in MVA revenues associated with repealing the fee
would likely exacerbate the existing shortfall.
Previous Legislation: AB 935 (Frazier), Chapter 644, Statutes
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of 2014, required DMV to offer a DL or ID printed with the word
"VETERAN" indicating the licensee or possessor of a DL or ID is
a military veteran.
AB 1637 (Frazier) of 2014, was virtually identical to AB 935 and
was held on the Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file.
AB 531 (Frazier) of 2013, was virtually identical to AB 935 and
was held on the Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file.
AB 1725 (Lowenthal) of 2012, was virtually identical to AB 935
and was held on the Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense
file.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
AB 1946
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Analysis Prepared by:Justin Behrens / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093