Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue a drivers license to an applicant when the department determines that the applicant is lawfully entitled to a license. Existing law specifies the required contents of a drivers license, including a fullface engraved picture or photograph of the licensee.

This bill would require the department, for purposes of the engraved picture or photograph, to allow a licensee to request that more than one, but not more than 3, photographs be taken onsite at the department field office and select which the photograph shall to be used on his or her license. The bill would also require the department to establish guidelines for licensees to have the photographs taken at an offsite location, through a private vendor who meets requirements established by the department, and to supply the selected photograph to the department for placement on his or her drivers license. The bill would require the department to establish a fee reasonable fee, not to exceed $5, for each additional photograph requested, as specified, requested and would require the department to deposit the revenue derived from the additional fees into the Motor Vehicle Account in the State Transportation Fund. Moneys deposited into that account pursuant to the bill would be used by the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to support driver education and training programs. The bill would require the department to adopt regulations to implement its provisions by _____. January 1, 2020.

Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue a drivers license to an applicant when the department determines that the applicant is lawfully entitled to a license. Existing law specifies the required contents of a drivers license, including a fullface engraved picture or photograph of the licensee.

This bill would require the department, for purposes of the engraved picture or photograph, to allow a licensee to request that more than one photograph one, but not more than 3, photographs be taken onsite at the department field office and select which photograph shall be used on his or her license. The bill would also require the department to establish guidelines for licensees to have the photographs taken at an offsite location location, through a private vendor who meets requirements established by the department, and to supply the selected photograph to the department for placement on his or her drivers license. The bill would require the department to establish a fee for each additional photograph requested, as specified, and would require the department to deposit the revenue derived from the additional fees into the Driver Education and Training Fund, which the bill would create. Motor Vehicle Account in the State Transportation Fund. Moneys in the fund deposited into that account pursuant to the bill would be used by the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to develop and provide support driver education and training programs. The bill would require the department to adopt regulations to implement its provisions by _____.

Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue a drivers license to an applicant when the department determines that the applicant is lawfully entitled to a license. Existing law specifies the required contents of a drivers license, including a fullface engraved picture or photograph of the licensee.

This bill would require the department, for purposes of the engraved picture or photograph, to allow a licensee to request that more than one photograph be taken onsite at the department field office and select which photograph shall be used on his or her license. The bill would also require the department to establish guidelines for licensees to have photographs taken at an offsite location and to supply the selected photograph to the department for placement on his or her drivers license. The bill would require the department to establish a fee for each additional photograph requested, as specified, and would require the department to deposit the revenue derived from the additional fees into the Driver Education and Training Fund, which the bill would create. Moneys in the fund would be used by the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to develop and provide driver education and training programs. The bill would require the department to adopt regulations to implement its provisions by _____.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular Session

SB 1407 (Newman) - Driver’s licenses: photographs

Bill Summary:

SB 1407 would require the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to allow a driver’s license applicant to select a photograph for his or her driver’s license, either from up to three photographs taken in a field office, or a photograph taken through private vendor, as specified. DMV would charge an unspecified fee for additional photographs requested at a field office, and fee revenues would be used to support driver education and training programs, after deducting administrative costs.

*********** ANALYSIS ADDENDUM – SUSPENSE FILE ***********

The following information is revised to reflect amendments

adopted by the committee on May 25, 2018

Fiscal Impact:

• One-time up-front DMV administrative costs, likely in the low hundreds of thousands to update regulations, make IT systems programming changes, modify contracts with the current license vendor, and update manuals and publications. Additional unknown costs for equipment, software, and engineering purchases. (Motor Vehicle Account)
  
• Unknown, potentially significant ongoing DMV costs for increased transaction times in field offices for customers who opt to take multiple photographs. (Motor Vehicle Account)
  
• Unknown fee revenue gains. Revenues are likely to fully offset additional ongoing DMV administrative costs, and may also provide additional funding for driver education and training programs. (Motor Vehicle Account)

Committee Amendments:

• Specify a fee of up to $5 for each additional photograph taken in a field office.
  
• Delete the requirement for DMV to establish guidelines for licensees to have driver’s license photographs taken at an offsite location through a private vendor, as specified.
  
• Specify that DMV must adopt implementing regulations by January 1, 2020.

-- END --

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: SB 1407

Author:

: 5/25/18

Vote:

SENATE TRANS. & HOUSING COMMITTEE: 11-0, 4/24/18

AYES: Beall, Cannella, Allen, Dodd, Gaines, Galgiani, McGuire, Roth, Skinner, Vidak, Wiener

NO VOTE RECORDED: Morrell, Wieckowski

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 5/25/18

AYES: Lara, Bates, Beall, Bradford, Hill, Nielsen, Wiener

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill allows an applicant to choose from multiple photographs for his or her driver’s license and authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to charge a fee for this service that would be directed toward driver education and training programs.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Authorizes the DMV to issue driver’s licenses to qualified individuals. To apply for an original driver’s license, an individual over 18 must go to a DMV office and complete an application, give a thumbprint, have his or her picture taken, pay the fee, provide appropriate documentation, pass a vision test, and pass knowledge and driving tests.
2. Requires the DMV to use a process that, to the extent feasible, prohibits the ability to alter or reproduce the driver’s license or to superimpose a picture or photograph on the license without ready detection.
3. Establishes a provisional driver’s license program for individuals between 16 and 18 years of age, with specified requirements including a certain number of hours of driver’s education and training courses.
4. Authorizes public and private high schools, and driving schools licensed by DMV, to provide driver education and driver training (behind-the-wheel). Requires the state Department of Education to establish curriculum offered by high schools and requires driving schools to obtain DMV approval of their curriculum as a condition of being licensed.

This bill:

1. Allows a driver’s license applicant to request that up to three photographs be taken onsite at the DMV field office and to select which photograph shall be used on his or her license. Authorizes the DMV to establish a fee of up to $5 for each additional photograph requested.
2. Requires the DMV, after deducting its administrative costs, to deposit any revenue derived from fees generated by additional photographs into the Motor Vehicle Account, to support driver education and training programs.
3. Requires the DMV to adopt regulations to implement these provisions by January 1, 2020.

Comments

1. Purpose. The author states that earning a driver’s license affords teenagers the types of experiences that are essential to educational and career progression in today’s rapidly evolving economy. As with other critical skills, driver’s education should be a funding priority for the state. This bill creates a simple yet effective mechanism for generating revenues to increase access to affordable driver’s education. In the era of Facebook and Instagram, where everyone is image-conscious, offering California drivers attractive options for enhancing their driver’s license photo will generate revenues to support returning driver’s education to California’s public high schools in an ideal “win-win” scenario.
2. What about REAL ID? The federal REAL ID Act of 2005 establishes new standards for driver’s licenses and identification (ID) cards and will require a federally compliant license or ID card in order to board an airplane or enter a federal building by October 1, 2020. DMV began offering federally compliant driver’s licenses and ID cards on January 22, 2018 to individuals applying for an original or renewal at a DMV field office. There are currently 29.5 million license and ID card holders in the state; DMV estimates 62% of current and new applicants will choose to have a federally compliant card over the next five years. To address concerns about extending wait times in DMV field offices, this bill limits the number of photos per individual to three.
3. Driver training and education programs. Although Californians used to take driver education and behind-the-wheel training courses for free in high school, most schools have dropped these courses in recent years. Now, young drivers often fulfill provisional driver’s license requirements through a state-licensed driving school, for a fee. A quick Google search indicates that online driver education courses can run as little as $12.95, while driver training courses can cost anywhere from $99 to over $500. AB 63 (Frazier, 2017) included a provision requiring driving schools and instructors to offer 12-month, zero-interest payment plans to customers, to help address affordability concerns; however, the bill was vetoed. This bill creates a new revenue source to help fund driver education and training in the form of a fee for driver’s license photo retakes.

Because DMV does not actually provide driver training and education, the author may wish to consider, as this bill moves forward, clarifying how these funds will be used. For example, funds might support the California Highway Patrol’s “Smart Start” program, which aims to help teenage drivers become more aware of the responsibilities that accompany driving. In addition, the nonprofit Impact Teen Drivers program aims to educate teen drivers as to the dangers of distracted driving.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:

• One-time up-front DMV administrative costs, likely in the low hundreds of thousands to update regulations, make IT systems programming changes, modify contracts with the current license vendor, and update manuals and publications. Additional unknown costs for equipment, software, and engineering purchases. (Motor Vehicle Account)
• Unknown, potentially significant ongoing DMV costs for increased transaction times in field offices for customers who opt to take multiple photographs. (Motor Vehicle Account)
• Unknown fee revenue gains. Revenues are likely to fully offset additional ongoing DMV administrative costs, and may also provide additional funding for driver education and training programs. (Motor Vehicle Account)

SUPPORT: (Verified 5/25/18)

None received

OPPOSITION: (Verified 5/25/18)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The author states that this bill creates a simple yet effective mechanism for generating revenues to increase access to affordable driver’s education.

Prepared by:

5/29/18 10:44:14

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular Session

SB 1407 (Newman) - Driver’s licenses: photographs

This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.

Bill Summary:

SB 1407 would require the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to allow a driver’s license applicant to select a photograph for his or her driver’s license, either from up to three photographs taken in a field office, or a photograph taken through private vendor, as specified. DMV would charge an unspecified fee for additional photographs requested at a field office, and fee revenues would be used to support driver education and training programs, after deducting administrative costs.

Fiscal Impact:

• One-time up-front DMV administrative costs, likely in the low hundreds of thousands to develop and adopt procedures for production of off-site photographs, update regulations, make IT systems programming changes, modify contracts with the current license vendor, and update manuals and publications. Additional unknown costs for equipment, software, and engineering purchases for in-person and off-site photographs. (Motor Vehicle Account)
  
• Unknown, potentially significant ongoing DMV costs for increased transaction times in field offices for customers who opt to take multiple photographs and to verify validity of those taken off-site. There could also be additional costs to contract with a private vendor for off-site photography. (Motor Vehicle Account)
  
• Unknown fee revenue gains. Depending on the amount of the fee, revenues may fully offset all ongoing DMV administrative and vendor costs, and may also provide additional funding for driver education and training programs. (Motor Vehicle Account)

Background:

Existing law authorizes DMV to issue driver’s licenses to qualified individuals. To apply for an original license, an individual over 18 must go to a DMV office and complete an application, give a thumbprint, have his or her picture taken, pay a fee, provide appropriate documentation, pass a vision test, and pass knowledge and driving tests.

Existing law requires a driver’s license to contain a brief description and fullface engraved picture or photograph of the licensee for purposes of identification. Existing law requires DMV to use a process that, a near as possible, prohibits the ability to alter or reproduce the driver’s license or to superimpose a picture or photograph on the license without ready detection.

Proposed Law:

SB 1407 would allow a licensee to request more than one photograph, but not more than three, to be taken onsite at a DMV field office, and to select which photograph would be used on the license. DMV would establish a fee of an unspecified amount for each additional photograph. After deducting its administrative costs, DMV would deposit all revenue from the additional fees into the Motor Vehicle Account. Revenues would be available to support driver education and training programs, upon appropriation by the Legislature.

The bill would require DMV to establish guidelines for licensees to have photographs taken at an offsite location, through a private vendor who meets established requirements, and to supply the photograph to DMV for placement on the license. DMV must adopt regulations by an unspecified date to implement the bill.

Staff Comments:

DMV currently processes approximately 900,000 original driver’s licenses and 1.8 million renewals annually. The department anticipates an additional increase in demand for original and renewal driver’s licenses over the next five years as a result of federal REAL ID requirements. Federal law requires a federally compliant license or ID card in order to board an airplane or enter a federal building by October 1, 2020, and DMV began issuing REAL ID-compliant licenses and ID cards in January of 2018. It is unclear how many applicants will pay an additional fee and request additional photographs for an extra charge, or have photographs taken through an offsite vendor. As such, ongoing costs for increased transaction times are unquantifiable. The bill provides for an additional fee for those requesting additional photographs, but the amount of the fee is currently unspecified, so fee revenue gains are also unquantifiable. Projected one-time administrative costs to provide for the ability to take multiple photographs onsite and establish guidelines for offsite photography were unavailable at the time of this analysis. Staff estimates those costs to be in the low hundreds of thousands. Costs to procure and install software and equipment to provide for the photography options in the bill are also unknown at this time, but likely significant.

Recommended Amendments:

The bill should be amended to specify an appropriate date by which DMV must adopt implementing regulations, and to specify the amount of the fee. The fee amount should at least be sufficient to cover DMV’s administrative costs.

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING

Senator Jim Beall, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular

Bill No: Hearing Date: 4/24/2018

SUBJECT:

DIGEST: This bill allows an applicant to choose from multiple photographs for his or her driver’s license and authorizes the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to charge a fee for this service that would be directed toward driver education and training programs.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Authorizes the DMV to issue driver’s licenses to qualified individuals. To apply for an original driver’s license, an individual over 18 must go to a DMV office and complete an application, give a thumbprint, have his or her picture taken, pay the fee, provide appropriate documentation, pass a vision test, and pass knowledge and driving tests.
2. Requires the DMV to use a process that, to the extent feasible, prohibits the ability to alter or reproduce the driver’s license or to superimpose a picture or photograph on the license without ready detection.
3. Establishes a provisional driver’s license program for individuals between 16 and 18 years of age, with specified requirements including a certain number of hours of driver’s education and training courses.
4. Authorizes public and private high schools, and driving schools licensed by DMV, to provide driver education and driver training (behind-the-wheel). Requires the state Department of Education to establish curriculum offered by high schools and requires driving schools to obtain DMV approval of their curriculum as a condition of being licensed.

This bill:

1. Allows a driver’s license applicant to request that up to three photographs be taken onsite at the DMV field office and to select which photograph shall be used on his or her license. Authorizes the DMV to establish a fee of an unspecified amount for each additional photograph requested.
2. Requires the DMV to establish guidelines for an applicant to have photographs taken through an offsite vendor and to supply the selected photograph to the DMV for placement on his or her license.
3. Requires the DMV, after deducting its administrative costs, to deposit any revenue derived from fees generated by additional photographs into the Motor Vehicle Account, to support driver education and training programs.
4. Requires the DMV to adopt regulations to implement these provisions by an unspecified date.

COMMENTS

1. Purpose. The author states that earning a driver’s license affords teenagers the types of experiences that are essential to educational and career progression in today’s rapidly evolving economy. As with other critical skills, driver’s education should be a funding priority for the state. This bill creates a simple yet effective mechanism for generating revenues to increase access to affordable driver’s education. In the era of Facebook and Instagram, where everyone is image-conscious, offering California drivers attractive options for enhancing their driver’s license photo will generate revenues to support returning driver’s education to California’s public high schools in an ideal “win-win” scenario.
2. What about REAL ID? The federal REAL ID Act of 2005 establishes new standards for driver’s licenses and identification (ID) cards and will require a federally compliant license or ID card in order to board an airplane or enter a federal building by October 1, 2020. DMV began offering federally compliant driver’s licenses and ID cards on January 22, 2018 to individuals applying for an original or renewal at a DMV field office. There are currently 29.5 million license and ID card holders in the state; DMV estimates 62% of current and new applicants will choose to have a federally compliant card over the next five years. Any outside photos brought to DMV pursuant to this bill would have to meet REAL ID requirements.
3. Driver training and education programs. Although Californians used to take driver education and behind-the-wheel training courses for free in high school, most schools have dropped these courses in recent years. Now, young drivers often fulfill provisional driver’s license requirements through a state-licensed driving school, for a fee. A quick Google search indicates that online driver education courses can run as little as $12.95, while driver training courses can cost anywhere from $99 to over $500. AB 63 (Frazier, 2017) included a provision requiring driving schools and instructors to offer 12-month, zero-interest payment plans to customers, to help address affordability concerns; however, this bill was vetoed. This bill would create a new revenue source to help fund driver education and training in the form of a fee for driver’s license photo retakes.

Because DMV does not actually provide driver training and education, the author may wish to consider, as the bill moves forward, clarifying how these funds will be used. For example, funds might support the California Highway Patrol’s “Smart Start” program, which aims to help teenage drivers become more aware of the responsibilities that accompany driving. In addition, the nonprofit Impact Teen Drivers program aims to educate teen drivers as to the dangers of distracted driving.

Related Legislation:

SB 179 (Atkins, Chapter 853, Statutes of 2017) — provides for a third gender option on the state driver’s license, identification card, and birth certificate; restructures the process for individuals to change their name to conform with their gender identity; and creates a new procedure for an individual to secure a court-ordered change of gender.

AB 63 (Frazier, 2017) — would have extended extends the provisional driver’s license program to individuals 21 years of age. This bill was vetoed by the Governor.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on Wednesday,

April 18, 2018.)

SUPPORT:

None received.

OPPOSITION:

None received.

-- END --