Legislature(2007 - 2008)BELTZ 211
04/03/2008 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB379 | |
| HB295 | |
| SB113 | |
| SB280 | |
| HB331 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 331 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 280 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | SB 113 | ||
| = | HB 295 | ||
| = | HB 379 | ||
CSHB 331-MOTOR(L&C) VEHICLES:LICENSES/INSURANCE/NOTICES
2:34:00 PM
CHAIR ELLIS announced CSHB 331(L&C) to be up for consideration.
2:34:31 PM
CRYSTAL KOENEMAN, staff for Representative Roses, sponsor of HB
331, said it addresses four different things. It drops the
penalty for failure to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles
(DMV) of a name or address change from a class B misdemeanor to
a fine of not more than $25. It also adds an affirmative defense
clause that states if a person's license has been suspended for
failure to show proof of insurance, that it is an affirmative
defense to show the court they had insurance at the time. Third,
HB 331 states if a person doesn't have vehicle insurance, he is
guilty of a class B misdemeanor and a fine of at least $500.
Currently the only fine for driving without insurance is a
license suspension of 90 days to 1-year. The sponsor feels the
penalty should be stronger because people who drive without
insurance cost the state more money.
Finally, current statute says that a person must fill out a form
following a vehicle accident proving they did, in fact, have
insurance at the time. If a person fails to fill out that form,
a notice is sent to them requiring them to respond. If they
don't respond after 30 days, their driver's license is
suspended. The notice is sent to the address on file, not to the
address that is listed on the accident report. So, section 4
changes the notification procedure to be sent to the most
current address whether it is the one on the accident report or
the one DMV has on file.
2:37:43 PM
WHITNEY BREWSTER, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles,
Department of Administration (DOA) supported HB 331. She said
sending a notice to the most recent address makes it more likely
that the person will actually get it. The division could
implement it fairly easily, she said, and it has a zero fiscal
note.
CHAIR ELLIS asked what their current practice is and if this
change requires any more staff.
MS. BREWSTER replied the division already sends a notice
requesting proof of insurance. If they do not get a response, a
second notice is sent via certified mail that indicates they
have 30 days to provide it. If nothing happens, their license is
suspended. Because the division currently sends the notice to
the address on record, this change wouldn't add to their work
load, but it would just allow an additional option to send it to
a more current address than the one on file.
CHAIR ELLIS thanked everyone for their testimony and said HB 331
would be held. There being no further business to come before
the committee, he adjourned the meeting at 2:40:45 PM.
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