BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2574
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 25, 2000
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
John Dutra, Chair
AB 2574 (Briggs) - As Proposed to Be Amended: April 25, 2000
SUBJECT : Selective Service registration: driver's license and
identification card.
SUMMARY : Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to
notify 18-25 year-old applicants for driver's licenses and ID
cards of any legal obligations to register with the federal
Selective Service System, and requires DMV to afford applicants
an opportunity to register by checking a box on DMV application
forms amended at federal expense. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires DMV to notify 18-25 year-old applicants for an
identification card, driver's license or license renewal that
all male applicants between 18 and 25 years, inclusive, are or
will be required to comply with the federal Military Selective
Service Act.
2)Requires DMV to afford 18-25 year-old male applicants the
opportunity to register with the service by checking an
appropriate box on the application form.
3)Specifies that the cost of implementation of these procedures
is to be borne by the federal government.
EXISTING LAW
1)Requires persons operating motor vehicles within the state to
hold a valid driver's license. Applicants for a California
driver's license are to provide specified information,
including information concerning personal identification,
personal history, health, knowledge of traffic laws, and
compliance with immigration and child support laws.
2)Requires, under the federal Military Selective Service Act,
resident males between 18 and 25 years, inclusive, to register
with the United States Selective Service System. Failure to
register constitutes a felony punishable by up to 5 years'
imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine.
3)Requires all state agencies to cooperate with the Selective
AB 2574
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Service System in disseminating information about requirements
for compliance with the system.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown cost to the federal government for
support of new DMV administrative requirements.
COMMENTS :
1)Among the 50 states, California has the lowest rate of
compliance with registration requirements for the Selective
Service System. Low levels of compliance with the system are
of public consequence for at least the following reasons:
a) Widespread noncompliance not only is unfair to those who
do register in good faith, but it tends to ensure that
registrants are unrepresentative of 18-25 year-old male
Californians. Unfair and inequitable participation in
Selective Service may lead to the unfair and inequitable
administration of military service itself.
b) Noncompliance with the Selective Service System has,
from time to time, prompted Washington officials to
consider less voluntary alternatives to the present system.
c) Those failing to register not only subject themselves to
criminal penalties, but they may be disqualified from
public employment, contracting and training and may
jeopardize student loans. Moreover, immigrants found in
noncompliance may be denied U.S. citizenship.
d) Those failing to register forego an opportunity to
receive information concerning the prospective advancement
of their careers through military service.
2)DMV currently provides the Selective Service twice a year with
a list of all males 17 to 25 years old who hold driver's
licenses and ID cards. The list includes only names,
addresses, and dates of birth. The Selective Service checks
this list against its own list of service registrants, and
informs those who have not registered of their obligation to
do so under federal law.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
AB 2574
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Selective Service System [SPONSOR]
American Legion, Department of CA
American Veterans (AMVETS), Department of CA
Association of the U.S. Army, Central CA Chapter 6105
Fresno Chamber of Commerce
Fresno County National Guard Commission
Legion of Valor of the U.S.A.
National Council of La Raza
National Infantry Association, Forsyth Guard, 185th Infantry
Chapter
National Sojourners, Inc., Fresno Chapter 269
Reserve Officers Association, District of Columbia Department,
Lewis B. Hershey Chapter
Veteran's Advisory Council of Fresno County
Individual letters (3)
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Glenn Gilbert / V. A. / (916) 319-2486