CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1207
Chapter 158, Laws of 2021
67th Legislature
2021 Regular Session
DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING ISSUED DOCUMENTS—VARIOUS PROVISIONS
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2022—Except for sections 1, 3, and 4,
which become effective May 3, 2021.
Passed by the House April 13, 2021 CERTIFICATE
Yeas 90 Nays 8
I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the
House of Representatives of the
LAURIE JINKINS State of Washington, do hereby
Speaker of the House of certify that the attached is
Representatives SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1207 as
passed by the House of
Representatives and the Senate on
the dates hereon set forth.
Passed by the Senate April 6, 2021
Yeas 49 Nays 0
BERNARD DEAN
DENNY HECK Chief Clerk
President of the Senate
Approved May 3, 2021 2:12 PM FILED
May 3, 2021
Secretary of State
JAY INSLEE State of Washington
Governor of the State of Washington
 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1207
AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
Passed Legislature - 2021 Regular Session
State of Washington 67th Legislature 2021 Regular Session
By House Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives
Ramel, Boehnke, Lekanoff, Lovick, Ortiz-Self, Eslick, Bergquist, and
Leavitt; by request of Department of Licensing)
READ FIRST TIME 02/22/21.
1 AN ACT Relating to improving access to department of licensing
2 issued documents by extending the issuance period of driver licenses
3 and identicards to eight years, allowing online issuance and renewal
4 of instruction permits, and expanding online renewal of driver
5 licenses and identicards; amending RCW 46.20.049, 46.20.055,
6 46.20.091, 46.20.120, 46.20.161, 46.20.181, 46.20.202, and 46.20.505;
7 reenacting and amending RCW 46.20.117; creating new sections;
8 providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
10 NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that a driver's
11 license or identicard is a fundamental document that Washingtonians
12 need to live, work, drive, and access essential needs. The COVID-19
13 pandemic has significantly reduced the department of licensing's
14 ability to provide in-person driver licensing services, resulting in
15 a growing backlog of customers that cannot access the agency's
16 critical services. This act is intended to address that backlog by
17 expanding online renewals, extending driver's license and identicard
18 issuance up to eight years, and providing more online options for
19 instruction permits. The legislature recognizes the critical role of
20 the department of licensing's front line staff during the pandemic
21 and does not intend that this act will result in staffing reductions
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 1 at the department of licensing now or in the future. To ensure that a
2 driver's license and identicard remain affordable for Washington
3 residents, the legislature intends for the department of licensing to
4 continue to offer a six-year issuance option. The legislature further
5 recognizes the potential of remote photo capture to enable expanded
6 online renewals while ensuring that customer information remains
7 updated. In implementing remote photo capture, the legislature
8 intends that the department of licensing will prioritize data
9 security and antifraud features as well as closely monitor its usage.
10 The legislature also intends that within a year of initial
11 implementation of remote photo capture, driver's license and
12 identicard photos should be updated with each renewal whenever
13 possible, recognizing that technology limitations and other
14 challenges will prevent some customers from using remote photo
15 capture.
16 Sec. 2. RCW 46.20.049 and 2012 c 80 s 11 are each amended to
17 read as follows:
18 There shall be an additional fee for issuing any class of
19 commercial driver's license in addition to the prescribed fee
20 required for the issuance of the original driver's license. The
21 additional fee for each class shall be ((eighty-five dollars from
22 October 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013, and one hundred two dollars after
23 June 30, 2013,)) one hundred thirty-six dollars for the original
24 commercial driver's license or subsequent renewals. If the commercial
25 driver's license is issued, renewed, or extended for a period other
26 than ((five)) eight years ((from October 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013,
27 or six years after June 30, 2013)), the fee for each class shall be
28 seventeen dollars for each year that the commercial driver's license
29 is issued, renewed, or extended. The fee shall be deposited in the
30 highway safety fund.
31 Sec. 3. RCW 46.20.055 and 2017 c 197 s 6 are each amended to
32 read as follows:
33 (1) Driver's instruction permit. The department may issue a
34 driver's instruction permit online or in person with or without a
35 photograph to an applicant who has successfully passed all parts of
36 the examination other than the driving test, provided the information
37 required by RCW 46.20.091, paid an application fee of twenty-five
38 dollars, and meets the following requirements:
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 1 (a) Is at least fifteen and one-half years of age; or
2 (b) Is at least fifteen years of age and:
3 (i) Has submitted a proper application; and
4 (ii) Is enrolled in a driver training education course offered as
5 part of a traffic safety education program authorized by the office
6 of the superintendent of public instruction and certified under
7 chapter 28A.220 RCW or offered by a driver training school licensed
8 and inspected by the department of licensing under chapter 46.82 RCW,
9 that includes practice driving.
10 (2) Waiver of written examination for instruction permit. The
11 department may waive the written examination, if, at the time of
12 application, an applicant is enrolled in a driver training education
13 course as defined in RCW 46.82.280 or 28A.220.020.
14 The department may require proof of registration in such a course
15 as it deems necessary.
16 (3) Effect of instruction permit. A person holding a driver's
17 instruction permit may drive a motor vehicle, other than a
18 motorcycle, upon the public highways if:
19 (a) The person has immediate possession of the permit;
20 (b) The person is not using a wireless communications device,
21 unless the person is using the device to report illegal activity,
22 summon medical or other emergency help, or prevent injury to a person
23 or property; and
24 (c) A driver training education course instructor who meets the
25 qualifications of chapter 46.82 or 28A.220 RCW, or a licensed driver
26 with at least five years of driving experience, occupies the seat
27 beside the driver.
28 (4) Term of instruction permit. A driver's instruction permit is
29 valid for one year from the date of issue.
30 (a) The department may issue one additional one-year permit.
31 (b) The department may issue a third driver's permit if it finds
32 after an investigation that the permittee is diligently seeking to
33 improve driving proficiency.
34 (c) A person applying for an additional instruction permit must
35 submit the application to the department ((in person)) and pay an
36 application fee of twenty-five dollars for each issuance.
37 Sec. 4. RCW 46.20.091 and 2000 c 115 s 4 are each amended to
38 read as follows:
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 1 (1) Application. In order to apply for a driver's license or
2 instruction permit the applicant must provide ((his or her)) the
3 applicant's:
4 (a) Name of record, as established by documentation required
5 under RCW 46.20.035;
6 (b) Date of birth, as established by satisfactory evidence of
7 age;
8 (c) Sex;
9 (d) Washington residence address;
10 (e) Description;
11 (f) Driving licensing history, including:
12 (i) Whether the applicant has ever been licensed as a driver or
13 chauffeur and, if so, (A) when and by what state or country; (B)
14 whether the license has ever been suspended or revoked; and (C) the
15 date of and reason for the suspension or revocation; or
16 (ii) Whether the applicant's application to another state or
17 country for a driver's license has ever been refused and, if so, the
18 date of and reason for the refusal; and
19 (g) Any additional information required by the department.
20 (2) Sworn statement. An application for an instruction permit or
21 for an original driver's license must be made upon a form provided by
22 the department. The form must include a section for the applicant to
23 indicate whether ((he or she)) the applicant has received driver
24 training and, if so, where. The identifying documentation verifying
25 the name of record must be accompanied by the applicant's ((written))
26 sworn statement that it is valid. ((The)) For an original driver's
27 license, the information provided on the form must be sworn to and
28 signed by the applicant before a person authorized to administer
29 oaths. An applicant who makes a false statement on an application for
30 a driver's license or instruction permit is guilty of false swearing,
31 a gross misdemeanor, under RCW 9A.72.040.
32 (3) Driving records from other jurisdictions. If a person
33 previously licensed in another jurisdiction applies for a Washington
34 driver's license, the department shall request a copy of the
35 applicant's driver's record from the other jurisdiction. The driving
36 record from the other jurisdiction becomes a part of the driver's
37 record in this state.
38 (4) Driving records to other jurisdictions. If another
39 jurisdiction requests a copy of a person's Washington driver's
40 record, the department shall provide a copy of the record. The
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 1 department shall forward the record without charge if the other
2 jurisdiction extends the same privilege to the state of Washington.
3 Otherwise the department shall charge a reasonable fee for
4 transmittal of the record.
5 Sec. 5. RCW 46.20.117 and 2020 c 261 s 2 and 2020 c 124 s 2 are
6 each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
7 (1) Issuance. The department shall issue an identicard,
8 containing a picture, if the applicant:
9 (a) Does not hold a valid Washington driver's license;
10 (b) Proves ((his or her)) the applicant's identity as required by
11 RCW 46.20.035; and
12 (c) Pays the required fee. Except as provided in subsection (7)
13 of this section, the fee is ((fifty-four)) seventy-two dollars,
14 unless an applicant is:
15 (i) A recipient of continuing public assistance grants under
16 Title 74 RCW, who is referred in writing by the secretary of social
17 and health services or by the secretary of children, youth, and
18 families;
19 (ii) Under the age of twenty-five and does not have a permanent
20 residence address as determined by the department by rule; or
21 (iii) An individual who is scheduled to be released from an
22 institution as defined in RCW 13.40.020, a community facility as
23 defined in RCW 72.05.020, or other juvenile rehabilitation facility
24 operated by the department of social and health services or the
25 department of children, youth, and families; or an individual who has
26 been released from such an institution or facility within thirty
27 calendar days before the date of the application.
28 For those persons under (c)(i) through (iii) of this subsection,
29 the fee must be the actual cost of production of the identicard.
30 (2)(a) Design and term. The identicard must:
31 (i) Be distinctly designed so that it will not be confused with
32 the official driver's license; and
33 (ii) Except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, expire
34 on the ((sixth)) eighth anniversary of the applicant's birthdate
35 after issuance.
36 (b) The identicard may include the person's status as a veteran,
37 consistent with RCW 46.20.161(4).
38 (c) If applicable, the identicard may include a medical alert
39 designation as provided in subsection (5) of this section.
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 1 (3) Renewal. An application for identicard renewal may be
2 submitted by means of:
3 (a) Personal appearance before the department; ((or))
4 (b) Mail or electronic commerce, if permitted by rule of the
5 department and if the applicant did not renew ((his or her)) the
6 identicard by mail or by electronic commerce when it last expired; or
7 (c) From January 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024, electronic commerce,
8 if permitted by rule of the department.
9 An identicard may not be renewed by mail or by electronic
10 commerce unless the renewal issued by the department includes a
11 photograph of the identicard holder.
12 (4) Cancellation. The department may cancel an identicard if the
13 holder of the identicard used the card or allowed others to use the
14 card in violation of RCW 46.20.0921.
15 (5) Any person may apply to the department to obtain a medical
16 alert designation, a developmental disability designation, or a
17 deafness designation on an identicard issued under this chapter by
18 providing:
19 (a) Self-attestation that the individual:
20 (i) Has a medical condition that could affect communication or
21 account for a health emergency;
22 (ii) Is deaf or hard of hearing; or
23 (iii) Has a developmental disability as defined in RCW
24 71A.10.020;
25 (b) A statement from the person that they have voluntarily
26 provided the self-attestation and other information verifying the
27 condition; and
28 (c) For persons under eighteen years of age or who have a
29 developmental disability, the signature of a parent or legal
30 guardian.
31 (6) A self-attestation or data contained in a self-attestation
32 provided under this section:
33 (a) Shall not be disclosed; and
34 (b) Is for the confidential use of the director, the chief of the
35 Washington state patrol, and law enforcement and emergency medical
36 service providers as designated by law.
37 (7) Alternative issuance/renewal/extension. The department may
38 issue or renew an identicard for a period other than ((six)) eight
39 years, or may extend by mail or electronic commerce an identicard
40 that has already been issued((, in order to evenly distribute, as
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 1 nearly as possible, the yearly renewal rate of identicard holders)).
2 The fee for an identicard issued or renewed for a period other than
3 ((six)) eight years, or that has been extended by mail or electronic
4 commerce, is nine dollars for each year that the identicard is
5 issued, renewed, or extended. The department must offer the option to
6 issue or renew an identicard for six years in addition to the eight
7 year issuance. The department may adopt any rules as are necessary to
8 carry out this subsection.
9 (8) Identicard photos must be updated in the same manner as
10 driver's license photos under RCW 46.20.120(5).
11 Sec. 6. RCW 46.20.120 and 2012 c 80 s 7 are each amended to read
12 as follows:
13 An applicant for a new or renewed driver's license must
14 successfully pass a driver licensing examination to qualify for a
15 driver's license. The department must ensure that examinations are
16 given at places and times reasonably available to the people of this
17 state. If the department does not administer driver licensing
18 examinations as a routine part of its licensing services within a
19 department region because adequate testing sites are provided by
20 driver training schools or school districts within that region, the
21 department shall, at a minimum, administer driver licensing
22 examinations by appointment to applicants eighteen years of age and
23 older in at least one licensing office within that region.
24 (1) Waiver. The department may waive:
25 (a) All or any part of the examination of any person applying for
26 the renewal of a driver's license unless the department determines
27 that the applicant is not qualified to hold a driver's license under
28 this title; or
29 (b) All or any part of the examination involving operating a
30 motor vehicle if the applicant:
31 (i) Surrenders a valid driver's license issued by the person's
32 previous home state; or
33 (ii) Provides for verification a valid driver's license issued by
34 a foreign driver licensing jurisdiction with which the department has
35 an informal agreement under RCW 46.20.125;