CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
SENATE BILL 5800
Chapter 162, Laws of 2024
68th Legislature
2024 Regular Session
DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING DOCUMENTS—VARIOUS PROVISIONS
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2025—Except for section 4, which takes
effect June 6, 2024.
Passed by the Senate March 4, 2024 CERTIFICATE
Yeas 48 Nays 0
I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of
the Senate of the State of
DENNY HECK Washington, do hereby certify that
President of the Senate the attached is SENATE BILL 5800 as
passed by the Senate and the House
of Representatives on the dates
hereon set forth.
Passed by the House February 28, 2024
Yeas 95 Nays 0
SARAH BANNISTER
LAURIE JINKINS Secretary
Speaker of the House of
Representatives
Approved March 18, 2024 3:30 PM FILED
March 19, 2024
Secretary of State
JAY INSLEE State of Washington
Governor of the State of Washington
 SENATE BILL 5800
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
Passed Legislature - 2024 Regular Session
State of Washington 68th Legislature 2024 Regular Session
By Senators C. Wilson, Torres, Billig, Kuderer, Mullet, Nobles, and
Shewmake; by request of Department of Licensing
Prefiled 12/05/23. Read first time 01/08/24. Referred to Committee
on Transportation.
1 AN ACT Relating to improving access to department of licensing
2 issued documents by clarifying the application requirements for a
3 minor, modifying the requirements for at-cost identicards, and
4 studying the feasibility of reduced-fee identicards; amending RCW
5 46.20.075, 46.20.100, and 46.20.117; creating a new section;
6 providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date.
7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
8 Sec. 1. RCW 46.20.075 and 2023 c 445 s 2 are each amended to
9 read as follows:
10 (1) An intermediate license authorizes the holder to drive a
11 motor vehicle under the conditions specified in this section. An
12 applicant for an intermediate license must be at least 16 years of
13 age and:
14 (a) Have possessed a valid instruction permit for a period of not
15 less than six months;
16 (b) Have passed a driver licensing examination administered by
17 the department;
18 (c) Have passed a course of driver's education in accordance with
19 the standards established in RCW 46.20.100;
20 (d) Present certification by his or her parent, guardian, ((or))
21 employer, or responsible adult to the department stating (i) that the
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 1 applicant has had at least 50 hours of driving experience, 10 of
2 which were at night, during which the driver was supervised by a
3 person at least 21 years of age who has had a valid driver's license
4 for at least three years, and (ii) that the applicant has not been
5 issued a notice of traffic infraction or cited for a traffic
6 violation that is pending at the time of the application for the
7 intermediate license;
8 (e) Not have been convicted of or found to have committed a
9 traffic violation within the last six months before the application
10 for the intermediate license; and
11 (f) Not have been adjudicated for an offense involving the use of
12 alcohol or drugs during the period the applicant held an instruction
13 permit.
14 (2) For the first six months after the issuance of an
15 intermediate license or until the holder reaches 18 years of age,
16 whichever occurs first, the holder of the license may not operate a
17 motor vehicle that is carrying any passengers under the age of 20 who
18 are not members of the holder's immediate family. For the remaining
19 period of the intermediate license, the holder may not operate a
20 motor vehicle that is carrying more than three passengers who are
21 under the age of 20 who are not members of the holder's immediate
22 family.
23 (3) The holder of an intermediate license may not operate a motor
24 vehicle between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. except (a) when the
25 holder is accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 25 years
26 of age, or (b) for school, religious, or employment activities for
27 the holder or a member of the holder's immediate family as defined in
28 this section.
29 (4) The holder of an intermediate license may not operate a
30 moving motor vehicle while using a wireless communications device
31 unless the holder is using the device to report illegal activity,
32 summon medical or other emergency help, or prevent injury to a person
33 or property.
34 (5) It is a traffic infraction for the holder of an intermediate
35 license to operate a motor vehicle in violation of the restrictions
36 imposed under this section.
37 (6) Except for a violation of subsection (4) of this section,
38 enforcement of this section by law enforcement officers may be
39 accomplished only as a secondary action when a driver of a motor
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 1 vehicle has been detained for a suspected violation of this title or
2 an equivalent local ordinance or some other offense.
3 (7) An intermediate licensee may drive at any hour without
4 restrictions on the number of passengers in the vehicle if necessary
5 for agricultural purposes.
6 (8) An intermediate licensee may drive at any hour without
7 restrictions on the number of passengers in the vehicle if, for the
8 12-month period following the issuance of the intermediate license,
9 he or she:
10 (a) Has not been involved in an accident involving only one motor
11 vehicle;
12 (b) Has not been involved in an accident where he or she was
13 cited in connection with the accident or was found to have caused the
14 accident;
15 (c) Has not been involved in an accident where no one was cited
16 or was found to have caused the accident; and
17 (d) Has not been convicted of or found to have committed a
18 traffic offense described in chapter 46.61 RCW or violated
19 restrictions placed on an intermediate licensee under this section.
20 (9) For the purposes of this section, (("immediate)) the
21 following definitions apply:
22 (a) "Immediate family" means an individual's spouse or domestic
23 partner, child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent,
24 grandparent, brother, half-brother, sister, or half-sister of the
25 individual, including foster children living in the household, and
26 the spouse or the domestic partner of any such person, and a child,
27 stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, brother,
28 half-brother, sister, or half-sister of the individual's spouse or
29 domestic partner, and the spouse or the domestic partner of any such
30 person.
31 (b) "Responsible adult" means a person specifically authorized by
32 the department who is over the age of 21 and:
33 (i) Has a familial, kinship, or caretaker relationship to a
34 minor;
35 (ii) Is an educational, medical, legal, social service, or
36 Washington state licensed mental health professional who provides
37 support directly to a minor in a professional capacity; or
38 (iii) Is an employee of a government entity and provides support
39 to a minor in a professional capacity.
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 1 Sec. 2. RCW 46.20.100 and 2017 c 197 s 7 are each amended to
2 read as follows:
3 (1) Application. The application of a person under the age of
4 ((eighteen)) 18 years for a driver's license or a motorcycle
5 endorsement must be signed by a parent ((or)), guardian ((with
6 custody of the minor. If the person under the age of eighteen has no
7 father, mother, or guardian, then the application must be signed by
8 the minor's)), employer, or responsible adult as defined in RCW
9 46.20.075.
10 (2) Traffic safety education requirement. For a person under the
11 age of ((eighteen)) 18 years to obtain a driver's license, he or she
12 must meet the traffic safety education requirements of this
13 subsection.
14 (a) To meet the traffic safety education requirement for a
15 driver's license, the applicant must satisfactorily complete a driver
16 training education course as defined in RCW 28A.220.020 for a course
17 offered by a school district or approved private school, or as
18 defined by the department of licensing for a course offered by a
19 driver training school licensed under chapter 46.82 RCW. The course
20 offered by a school district or an approved private school must be
21 part of a traffic safety education program authorized by the office
22 of the superintendent of public instruction and certified under
23 chapter 28A.220 RCW. The course offered by a driver training school
24 must meet the standards established by the department of licensing
25 under chapter 46.82 RCW. The driver training education course may be
26 provided by:
27 (i) A secondary school within a school district or approved
28 private school that establishes and maintains an approved and
29 certified traffic safety education program under chapter 28A.220 RCW;
30 or
31 (ii) A driver training school licensed under chapter 46.82 RCW
32 that is annually approved by the department of licensing.
33 (b) To meet the traffic safety education requirement for a
34 motorcycle endorsement, the applicant must successfully complete a
35 motorcycle safety education course that meets the standards
36 established by the department of licensing.
37 (c) The department may waive the driver training education course
38 requirement for a driver's license if the applicant demonstrates to
39 the department's satisfaction that:
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 1 (i) He or she was unable to take or complete a driver training
2 education course;
3 (ii) A need exists for the applicant to operate a motor vehicle;
4 and
5 (iii) He or she has the ability to operate a motor vehicle in
6 such a manner as not to jeopardize the safety of persons or property.
7 The department may adopt rules to implement this subsection (2)(c) in
8 concert with the supervisor of the traffic safety education section
9 of the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
10 (d) The department may waive the driver training education course
11 requirement if the applicant was licensed to drive a motor vehicle or
12 motorcycle outside this state and provides proof that he or she has
13 had education equivalent to that required under this subsection.
14 Sec. 3. RCW 46.20.117 and 2021 c 158 s 5 are each amended to
15 read as follows:
16 (1) Issuance. The department shall issue an identicard,
17 containing a picture, if the applicant:
18 (a) Does not hold a valid Washington driver's license;
19 (b) Proves the applicant's identity as required by RCW 46.20.035;
20 and
21 (c) Pays the required fee. Except as provided in subsection (7)
22 of this section, the fee is ((seventy-two dollars)) $72, unless an
23 applicant is:
24 (i) A recipient of continuing public assistance grants under
25 Title 74 RCW, ((who is referred in writing by the secretary of social
26 and health services or by the secretary of children, youth, and
27 families)) or a participant in the Washington women, infants, and
28 children program. Any applicant under this subsection must be
29 verified by documentation sufficient to demonstrate eligibility;
30 (ii) Under the age of ((twenty-five)) 25 and does not have a
31 permanent residence address as determined by the department by rule;
32 or
33 (iii) An individual who is scheduled to be released from an
34 institution as defined in RCW 13.40.020, a community facility as
35 defined in RCW 72.05.020, or other juvenile rehabilitation facility
36 operated by the department of social and health services or the
37 department of children, youth, and families; or an individual who has
38 been released from such an institution or facility within ((thirty))
39 30 calendar days before the date of the application.
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 1 For those persons under (c)(i) through (iii) of this subsection,
2 the fee must be the actual cost of production of the identicard.
3 (2)(a) Design and term. The identicard must:
4 (i) Be distinctly designed so that it will not be confused with
5 the official driver's license; and
6 (ii) Except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, expire
7 on the eighth anniversary of the applicant's birthdate after
8 issuance.
9 (b) The identicard may include the person's status as a veteran,
10 consistent with RCW 46.20.161(4).
11 (c) If applicable, the identicard may include a medical alert
12 designation as provided in subsection (5) of this section.
13 (3) Renewal. An application for identicard renewal may be
14 submitted by means of:
15 (a) Personal appearance before the department;
16 (b) Mail or electronic commerce, if permitted by rule of the
17 department and if the applicant did not renew the identicard by mail
18 or by electronic commerce when it last expired; or
19 (c) From January 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024, electronic commerce,
20 if permitted by rule of the department.
21 An identicard may not be renewed by mail or by electronic
22 commerce unless the renewal issued by the department includes a
23 photograph of the identicard holder.
24 (4) Cancellation. The department may cancel an identicard if the
25 holder of the identicard used the card or allowed others to use the
26 card in violation of RCW 46.20.0921.
27 (5) Any person may apply to the department to obtain a medical
28 alert designation, a developmental disability designation, or a
29 deafness designation on an identicard issued under this chapter by
30 providing:
31 (a) Self-attestation that the individual:
32 (i) Has a medical condition that could affect communication or
33 account for a health emergency;
34 (ii) Is deaf or hard of hearing; or
35 (iii) Has a developmental disability as defined in RCW
36 71A.10.020;
37 (b) A statement from the person that they have voluntarily
38 provided the self-attestation and other information verifying the
39 condition; and
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 1 (c) For persons under ((eighteen)) 18 years of age or who have a
2 developmental disability, the signature of a parent or legal
3 guardian.
4 (6) A self-attestation or data contained in a self-attestation
5 provided under this section:
6 (a) Shall not be disclosed; and
7 (b) Is for the confidential use of the director, the chief of the
8 Washington state patrol, and law enforcement and emergency medical
9 service providers as designated by law.
10 (7) Alternative issuance/renewal/extension. The department may
11 issue or renew an identicard for a period other than eight years, or
12 may extend by mail or electronic commerce an identicard that has
13 already been issued. The fee for an identicard issued or renewed for
14 a period other than eight years, or that has been extended by mail or
15 electronic commerce, is ((nine dollars)) $9 for each year that the
16 identicard is issued, renewed, or extended. The department must offer
17 the option to issue or renew an identicard for six years in addition
18 to the eight year issuance. The department may adopt any rules as are
19 necessary to carry out this subsection.
20 (8) Identicard photos must be updated in the same manner as
21 driver's license photos under RCW 46.20.120(5).
22 NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The department of licensing must
23 conduct a study on the feasibility of offering a reduced-fee
24 identicard. In completing this study, the department shall:
25 (a) Examine the current cost of identicards and its impact on
26 families and customers with limited resources;
27 (b) Conduct a review of additional states and how they handle
28 pricing of their identity credentials;
29 (c) Review parameters of eligibility for identicards issued under
30 RCW 46.20.117(1)(c);
31 (d) Recommend improvements to accessing identicards for the
32 public;
33 (e) Identify any changes in revenue associated with expanded
34 eligibility for reduced-fee identicards; and
35 (f) Identify any costs associated with administering and
36 promoting a reduced-fee identicard program.
37 (2) A report of the study findings and any recommendations are
38 due to the governor and the transportation committees of the
39 legislature by December 1, 2025.
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1 (3) This section expires December 1, 2025.
2 NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Sections 1 through 3 of this act take
3 effect January 1, 2025.