SELECTIVE SERVICE REGISTRATION S.B. 934: ENROLLED ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 934 (as enrolled) PUBLIC ACT 642 of 2006
Sponsor: Senator Valde Garcia
Senate Committee: Transportation
House Committee: Transportation
Date Completed: 1-12-07
RATIONALE
The Selective Service System is an independent agency within the executive branch of the Federal government. Under the Military Selective Service Act, the mission of the Selective Service System is to provide the numbers of men needed by the Armed Forces should Congress and the President decide to return to a draft. Selective Service also would be responsible for administering a program of alternative service for conscientious objectors.
With few exceptions, all male United States citizens and male aliens residing in the United States and its territories must register for the Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. (The exceptions apply to members of the Armed Forces on active duty; lawfully admitted nonimmigrants on visas; and men who are continually confined to a residence, hospital, or institution.) A male may register online at the Selective Service website, at a U.S. post office, or at a U.S. embassy or consulate. It was suggested that men also should be given the opportunity to register when they apply for an original or renewal driver license.
CONTENT
The bill amends the Michigan Vehicle Code to require the Secretary of State, beginning October 1, 2010, to obtain the information necessary to register an individual, with his consent, with the Federal Selective Service System in accordance with the Military Selective Service Act (50 USC Appx 453), including the individual's Social Security number, at the time the individual applies for a driver license. The bill applies to any male U.S. citizen or male immigrant to the United States who is less than 26 years old applying for an operator's license or chauffeur's license.
Each application must contain all of the following:
-- A statement that, if the applicant gives his consent, the Secretary of State is authorized to provide his registration information to the Selective Service System.
-- The following statement: "If I am less than 18 years of age and give my consent to the Secretary of State to provide the information necessary to register me for selective service, I understand that I will automatically be registered for selective service when I become 18 years of age if required by federal law."
-- A statement of the criminal penalties and other sanctions that apply for failing to register with Selective Service.
-- The following statement: "I acknowledge having been given information regarding the penalties for not registering for selective service."
-- A statement appearing in capitalized, bold-faced type that declining to give consent to registration does not affect the applicant's privilege to receive an operator's or chauffeur's license.
-- A location on the application where the applicant must indicate that he either consents to forwarding his registration information to the Selective Service System or that he does consent.
The Secretary of State must forward the information obtained in an application to the Selective Service System in a format consistent with Selective Service System requirements.
The Secretary of State may not forward any information regarding an applicant who is younger than 18 to the Selective Service System unless he gives his consent as provided in the bill.
The bill will take effect on October 1, 2010.
MCL 257.307b
ARGUMENTS
(Please note: The arguments contained in this analysis originate from sources outside the Senate Fiscal Agency. The Senate Fiscal Agency neither supports nor opposes legislation.)
Supporting Argument
A male who is required to register for the Selective Service System but does not is barred from receiving Federal loans and grants, job training, and in some cases, employment. As of 2005, reportedly, approximately 10,000 Michigan men had failed to register for the Selective Service. For many people, failure to register is not deliberate. The bill will provide a convenient way for men to avoid the negative consequences of inadvertently failing to register.
Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy
FISCAL IMPACT
The Department of State does not have an estimate of costs but reports that the bill will result in information technology costs and additional transaction time.
Fiscal Analyst: Joe CarrascoAnalysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb934/0506