BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 390
Page 1
Date of Hearing: March 21, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair
AB 390 (Portantino) - As Amended: March 29, 2011
SUBJECT : Identification cards
SUMMARY : Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to
provide the holders of identification (ID) cards early
notification, by mail, of the card's expiration date.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Allows DMV to issue an ID card to any person attesting to the
true full name, correct age, and other identifying data as
certified by the applicant for the card.
2)Allows any person 62 years of age or older to apply for, and
requires DMV upon receipt of a proper application to issue, an
ID card bearing the notation "Senior Citizen."
3)Requires every application for an ID card to be signed and
verified by the applicant before a person authorized to
administer oaths and to be supported by bona fide documentary
evidence of the age and identity of the applicant as DMV may
require, and to include a legible print of the thumb or finger
of the applicant.
4)Allows any person 62 years of age or older, and any other
qualified person, to apply for, or possess, an ID card under
either, but not both, the provisions described above.
5)Requires ID cards, other than senior citizen cards, to expire
on the sixth birthday of the applicant following the date of
application for the card.
6)Requires renewal of an ID card, other than a senior citizen ID
card, to be made for a term that expires on the sixth birthday
of the applicant following expiration of card renewed, unless
AB 390
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surrendered earlier.
7)Requires a senior citizen ID card to expire on the 10th
birthday of the applicant following the date of application
for the card.
8)Allows an ID card to be issued to a person in exchange for the
person's driver's license which is surrendered to DMV if the
person has a physical or mental condition and requests
cancellation of the driver's license or if DMV has revoked the
person's driving privilege based on the person's physical or
mental condition.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : Existing DMV practice is for renewal notices to be
sent to ID card holders 60 days in advance of the card's
expiration. This practice is not mandated by statute but
represents a courtesy to allow cardholders sufficient time to
apply for renewal and to remind them of the pending expiration
of their cards. Segments of the blind community are concerned
that in an era of tight budgets and shrinking governmental
resources, DMV may abandon this practice in the interest of
cost-cutting. Since blind persons cannot actually see the
expiration dates on their ID cards, they rely on the renewal
notices to alert them to the status of the cards. They
therefore wish to have the practice of sending early renewal
notices enshrined in statute.
As described by the author, "Despite numerous design changes and
security enhancements in California ID cards, it remains
difficult for individuals with limited or no vision to determine
the expiration date on the identification they rely upon. AB
390 will ensure all Californians receive the same renewal
information in regards to the California identification card
they rely on, regardless of the type of ID they possess. By
requiring this notification we can ensure people don't find
themselves in unnecessary and potentially difficult situations
due to a lack of valid California ID."
The sponsor, California Council of the Blind, adds, "
Californians are required to present a valid form of government
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issued identification, typically a driver's license or a state
ID card, in order to complete an increasing variety of
activities such as traveling and making financial transactions.
Because individuals who present an expired identification card
may be unable to complete these activities it is important that
they receive timely renewal notices from the Department of Motor
Vehicles, both for driver's licenses and for state ID cards.
This is particularly important for holders of California state
ID cards who are blind or visually impaired because they may be
unable to read the expiration date that is printed on their
cards. For example, we have been informed of cases of visually
impaired travelers who have run into difficulty purchasing train
tickets at Amtrak stations because they were unknowingly
carrying expired state ID cards. Given the trend toward
stricter security procedures for a variety of transactions, we
can expect such unfortunate incidents to increase unless holders
of California State ID cards are provided renewal notices in a
timely manner."
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Council of the Blind (sponsor)
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Howard Posner / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093