Bill Text: CA AB2952 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 2952 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Driver’s licenses: veteran designation.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-05-19 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB2952 Detail]

Download: California-2021-AB2952-Amended.html

Amended IN Assembly March 29, 2022

Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2022

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2952

Introduced by Assembly Member Gabriel

February 18, 2022

An act to amend Section 12811 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2952, as amended, Gabriel. Driver’s licenses: veteran designation.

Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue a driver’s license to an applicant when the department determines that the applicant is lawfully entitled to a license. Existing law allows an in-person applicant for a driver’s license or identification card to request the word “VETERAN” be printed on the face of the driver’s license or identification card, subject to certain requirements, including, among others, verification of veteran status, as specified, and payment of a $5 fee, which the department is authorized to increase by regulation, in an amount not to exceed $15, as specified.

This bill would allow an applicant for a driver’s license or identification card, who served for another country in military operations that supported the United States during the Vietnam War and later became a naturalized citizen, to request a ~~“VETERAN”~~ “NON-US VIETNAM VETERAN” designation on their driver’s license or identification card, subject to certain requirements, including verification of military service for a foreign country during the Vietnam War and payment of a $5 fee, which the department is authorized to increase by regulation, in an amount not to exceed $15, as specified. This bill would authorize the department to consult with the Department of Veterans Affairs to determine the proof necessary to verify an applicant’s veteran status.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 12811 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

12811.

(a) (1) (A) When the department determines that the applicant is lawfully entitled to a license, it shall issue to the person a driver’s license as applied for. The license shall state the class of license for which the licensee has qualified and shall contain the distinguishing number assigned to the applicant, the date of expiration, the true full name, age, and mailing address or residence address of the licensee, a brief description and engraved picture or photograph of the licensee for the purpose of identification, and space for the signature of the licensee.

(B) Each license shall also contain a space for the endorsement of a record of each suspension or revocation of the license.

(C) The department shall use whatever process or processes, in the issuance of engraved or colored licenses, that prohibit, as near as possible, the ability to alter or reproduce the license, or prohibit the ability to superimpose a picture or photograph on the license without ready detection.

(2) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), a license issued to a person under 18 years of age shall display the words “provisional until age 18.”

(b) (1) All applications for a driver’s license or identification card shall contain a space for an applicant to indicate whether they have served in the Armed Forces of the United States and to give their consent to be contacted regarding eligibility to receive state or federal veterans benefits. The application shall contain the following statement:

“By marking the veteran box on this application, I certify that I am a veteran of the United States Armed Forces and that I want to receive veterans benefits information from the California Department of Veterans Affairs. By marking the veteran box on this application, I also consent to DMV transmitting my name and mailing address to the California Department of Veterans Affairs for this purpose only, and I certify that I have been notified that this transmittal will occur.”

(2) The department shall collect the information obtained pursuant to paragraph (1).

(3) As mutually agreed between the department and the Department of Veterans Affairs, the department shall electronically transmit to the Department of Veterans Affairs the following information on each applicant who has identified that they have served in the Armed Forces of the United States since the last data transfer and has consented to be contacted about veterans benefits:

(A) The applicant’s true full name.

(B) The applicant’s mailing address.

(4) Information obtained by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purposes of this subdivision shall be used for the purpose of assisting individuals to access veterans benefits and shall not be disseminated except as needed for this purpose.

(5) Commencing November 11, 2015, an in-person application for a driver’s license or identification card shall allow an applicant to request the word “VETERAN” be printed on the face of the driver’s license or identification card. A verification form shall be developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs in consultation with the Department of Motor Vehicles and the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers to acknowledge verification of veteran status. A county veterans service office shall verify the veteran’s status as a veteran, sign the verification form, and return it to the veteran. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall accept the signed verification form as proof of veteran status. Upon payment of the fee required pursuant to Section 14901.1, the word “VETERAN” shall be printed on the face of a driver’s license or identification card, in a location determined by the department, and issued to a person who makes this request and presents the verification form to the department.

(c) (1) An applicant who served for another country in military operations that supported the United States during the Vietnam War and later became a naturalized citizen may request the ~~word “VETERAN”~~ phrase “NON-US VIETNAM VETERAN” be printed on the face of their driver’s license or identification card. To receive a ~~“VETERAN”~~ “NON-US VIETNAM VETERAN” designation on a driver’s license or identification card under this subdivision, an applicant shall provide the department with proof of veteran status.

(2) The department may consult with the Department of Veterans Affairs to determine the proof necessary to verify an applicant’s veteran status.

(3) In addition to the fees required by Section 14900, 14900.1, or 14902, and except as otherwise provided in paragraph (4), the department shall charge a one-time fee of five dollars ($5) to any person who requests, pursuant to paragraph (1), that the person’s driver’s license or identification card be printed with the ~~word “VETERAN”~~ phrase “NON-US VIETNAM VETERAN” to indicate that the person has served for another country in military operations that supported the United States during the Vietnam War and later became a naturalized citizen. The department may increase the fee by regulation, in an amount not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15), to reimburse the department for its reasonable costs in processing and issuing a request for a license or card issued pursuant to paragraph (1).

(4) A fee shall not be charged for a request made pursuant to paragraph (1) by either of the following persons:

(A) A person who has been determined to be eligible to obtain an original or replacement identification card at a reduced fee pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 14902.

(B) A person who can verify their status as a homeless person and who has been determined to be eligible to obtain an original or replacement identification card for no fee pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 14902.

(d) A contract shall not be awarded to a nongovernmental entity for the processing of driver’s licenses, unless the contract conforms to all applicable state contracting laws and all applicable procedures set forth in the State Contracting Manual.