Bill Text: MO HB1937 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Allows a temporary exemption from the proof of lawful presence requirement for a victim of domestic violence who is applying for a driver's license or instruction permit

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-05-14 - Referred: Crime Prevention (H) [HB1937 Detail]

Download: Missouri-2010-HB1937-Introduced.html

SECOND REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 1937

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY


 

 

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES LOW (Sponsor), NEWMAN, WALTON GRAY, OXFORD, ZIMMERMAN, LAMPE, PACE AND TALBOY (Co-sponsors).

3653L.01I                                                                                                                                                  D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk


 

AN ACT

To repeal sections 302.130 and 302.171, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to drivers' licenses.




Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:


            Section A. Sections 302.130 and 302.171, RSMo, are repealed and two new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 302.130 and 302.171, to read as follows:

            302.130. 1. Any person at least fifteen years of age who, except for age or lack of instruction in operating a motor vehicle, would otherwise be qualified to obtain a license pursuant to sections 302.010 to 302.340 may apply for and the director shall issue a temporary instruction permit entitling the applicant, while having such permit in the applicant's immediate possession, to drive a motor vehicle of the appropriate class upon the highways for a period of twelve months, but any such person, except when operating a motorcycle or motortricycle, must be accompanied by a licensed operator for the type of motor vehicle being operated who is actually occupying a seat beside the driver for the purpose of giving instruction in driving the motor vehicle, who is at least twenty-one years of age, and in the case of any driver under sixteen years of age, the licensed operator occupying the seat beside the driver shall be a grandparent, parent, guardian, a driver training instructor holding a valid driver education endorsement on a teaching certificate issued by the department of elementary and secondary education or a qualified instructor of a private drivers' education program who has a valid driver's license. An applicant for a temporary instruction permit shall successfully complete a vision test and a test of the applicant's ability to understand highway signs which regulate, warn or direct traffic and practical knowledge of the traffic laws of this state, pursuant to section 302.173. In addition, beginning January 1, 2007, no permit shall be granted pursuant to this subsection unless a parent or legal guardian gives written permission by signing the application and in so signing, state they, or their designee as set forth in subsection 2 of this section, will provide a minimum of forty hours of behind-the-wheel driving instruction, including a minimum of ten hours of behind-the-wheel driving instruction that occurs during the nighttime hours falling between sunset and sunrise. The forty hours of behind-the-wheel driving instruction that is completed pursuant to this subsection may include any time that the holder of an instruction permit has spent operating a motor vehicle in a driver training program taught by a driver training instructor holding a valid driver education endorsement on a teaching certificate issued by the department of elementary and secondary education or by a qualified instructor of a private drivers' education program. If the applicant for a permit is enrolled in a federal residential job training program, the instructor[, as defined in subsection 5 of this section,] is authorized to sign the application stating that the applicant will receive the behind-the-wheel driving instruction required by this section.

            2. In the event the parent, grandparent or guardian of the person under sixteen years of age has a physical disability which prohibits or disqualifies said parent, grandparent or guardian from being a qualified licensed operator pursuant to this section, said parent, grandparent or guardian may designate a maximum of two individuals authorized to accompany the applicant for the purpose of giving instruction in driving the motor vehicle. An authorized designee must be a licensed operator for the type of motor vehicle being operated and have attained twenty-one years of age. At least one of the designees must occupy the seat beside the applicant while giving instruction in driving the motor vehicle. The name of the authorized designees must be provided to the department of revenue by the parent, grandparent or guardian at the time of application for the temporary instruction permit. The name of each authorized designee shall be printed on the temporary instruction permit, however, the director may delay the time at which permits are printed bearing such names until the inventories of blank permits and related forms existing on August 28, 1998, are exhausted.

            3. The director, upon proper application on a form prescribed by the director, in his or her discretion, may issue a restricted instruction permit effective for a school year or more restricted period to an applicant who is enrolled in a high school driver training program taught by a driver training instructor holding a valid driver education endorsement on a teaching certificate issued by the state department of elementary and secondary education even though the applicant has not reached the age of sixteen years but has passed the age of fifteen years. Such instruction permit shall entitle the applicant, when the applicant has such permit in his or her immediate possession, to operate a motor vehicle on the highways, but only when a driver training instructor holding a valid driver education endorsement on a teaching certificate issued by the state department of elementary and secondary education is occupying a seat beside the driver.

            4. The director, in his or her discretion, may issue a temporary driver's permit to an applicant who is otherwise qualified for a license permitting the applicant to operate a motor vehicle while the director is completing the director's investigation and determination of all facts relative to such applicant's rights to receive a license. Such permit must be in the applicant's immediate possession while operating a motor vehicle, and it shall be invalid when the applicant's license has been issued or for good cause has been refused.

            5. In the event that the applicant for a temporary instruction permit described in subsection 1 of this section is a participant in a federal residential job training program, the permittee may operate a motor vehicle accompanied by a driver training instructor who holds a valid driver education endorsement issued by the department of elementary and secondary education and a valid driver's license.

            6. A person at least fifteen years of age may operate a motor vehicle as part of a driver training program taught by a driver training instructor holding a valid driver education endorsement on a teaching certificate issued by the department of elementary and secondary education or a qualified instructor of a private drivers' education program.

            7. Beginning January 1, 2003, the director shall issue with every temporary instruction permit issued pursuant to subsection 1 of this section a sticker or sign bearing the words "PERMIT DRIVER". The design and size of such sticker or sign shall be determined by the director by regulation. Every applicant issued a temporary instruction permit and sticker on or after January 1, 2003, may display or affix the sticker or sign on the rear window of the motor vehicle. Such sticker or sign may be displayed on the rear window of the motor vehicle whenever the holder of the instruction permit operates a motor vehicle during his or her temporary permit licensure period.

            8. Beginning July 1, 2005, the director shall verify that an applicant for an instruction permit issued under this section is lawfully present in the United States before accepting the application. The director shall not issue an instruction permit for a period that exceeds an applicant's lawful presence in the United States. The director may establish procedures to verify the lawful presence of the applicant and establish the duration of any permit issued under this section. Notwithstanding any other law, an applicant's presentation of a certified letter issued by a domestic violence shelter, as defined in section 455.200, asserting that the victim of domestic violence has no means of documenting her lawful presence due to her current situation shall entitle the applicant to a temporary instruction permit, with a duration not to exceed six months.

            9. The director may adopt rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

            302.171. 1. The director shall verify that an applicant for a driver's license is a Missouri resident or national of the United States or a noncitizen with a lawful immigration status, and a Missouri resident before accepting the application. The director shall not issue a driver's license for a period that exceeds the duration of an applicant's lawful immigration status in the United States. The director may establish procedures to verify the Missouri residency or United States naturalization or lawful immigration status and Missouri residency of the applicant and establish the duration of any driver's license issued under this section. Notwithstanding any other law, an applicant's presentation of a certified letter issued by a domestic violence shelter, as defined in section 455.200, asserting that the victim of domestic violence has no means of documenting her lawful presence due to her current situation shall entitle the applicant to a temporary driver's license, with a duration not to exceed six months. An application for a license shall be made upon an approved form furnished by the director. Every application shall state the full name, Social Security number, age, height, weight, color of eyes, sex, residence, mailing address of the applicant, and the classification for which the applicant has been licensed, and, if so, when and by what state, and whether or not such license has ever been suspended, revoked, or disqualified, and, if revoked, suspended or disqualified, the date and reason for such suspension, revocation or disqualification and whether the applicant is making a one dollar donation to promote an organ donation program as prescribed in subsection 2 of this section. A driver's license, nondriver's license, or instruction permit issued under this chapter shall contain the applicant's legal name as it appears on a birth certificate or as legally changed through marriage or court order. No name change by common usage based on common law shall be permitted. The application shall also contain such information as the director may require to enable the director to determine the applicant's qualification for driving a motor vehicle; and shall state whether or not the applicant has been convicted in this or any other state for violating the laws of this or any other state or any ordinance of any municipality, relating to driving without a license, careless driving, or driving while intoxicated, or failing to stop after an accident and disclosing the applicant's identity, or driving a motor vehicle without the owner's consent. The application shall contain a certification by the applicant as to the truth of the facts stated therein. Every person who applies for a license to operate a motor vehicle who is less than twenty-one years of age shall be provided with educational materials relating to the hazards of driving while intoxicated, including information on penalties imposed by law for violation of the intoxication-related offenses of the state. Beginning January 1, 2001, if the applicant is less than eighteen years of age, the applicant must comply with all requirements for the issuance of an intermediate driver's license pursuant to section 302.178. For persons mobilized and deployed with the United States Armed Forces, an application under this subsection shall be considered satisfactory by the department of revenue if it is signed by a person who holds general power of attorney executed by the person deployed, provided the applicant meets all other requirements set by the director.

            2. An applicant for a license may make a donation of one dollar to promote an organ donor program. The director of revenue shall collect the donations and deposit all such donations in the state treasury to the credit of the organ donor program fund established in sections 194.297 to 194.304, RSMo. Moneys in the organ donor program fund shall be used solely for the purposes established in sections 194.297 to 194.304, RSMo, except that the department of revenue shall retain no more than one percent for its administrative costs. The donation prescribed in this subsection is voluntary and may be refused by the applicant for the license at the time of issuance or renewal of the license. The director shall make available an informational booklet or other informational sources on the importance of organ and tissue donations to applicants for licensure as designed by the organ donation advisory committee established in sections 194.297 to 194.304, RSMo. The director shall inquire of each applicant at the time the licensee presents the completed application to the director whether the applicant is interested in making the one dollar donation prescribed in this subsection and whether the applicant is interested in inclusion in the organ donor registry and shall also specifically inform the licensee of the ability to consent to organ donation by completing the form on the reverse of the license that the applicant will receive in the manner prescribed by subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of section 194.225, RSMo. A symbol shall be placed on the front of the document indicating the applicant's desire to be listed in the registry. The director shall notify the department of health and senior services of information obtained from applicants who indicate to the director that they are interested in registry participation, and the department of health and senior services shall enter the complete name, address, date of birth, race, gender and a unique personal identifier in the registry established in subsection 1 of section 194.304, RSMo.

            3. An applicant for a license may make a donation of one dollar to promote a blindness education, screening and treatment program. The director of revenue shall collect the donations and deposit all such donations in the state treasury to the credit of the blindness education, screening and treatment program fund established in section 192.935, RSMo. Moneys in the blindness education, screening and treatment program fund shall be used solely for the purposes established in section 192.935, RSMo, except that the department of revenue shall retain no more than one percent for its administrative costs. The donation prescribed in this subsection is voluntary and may be refused by the applicant for the license at the time of issuance or renewal of the license. The director shall inquire of each applicant at the time the licensee presents the completed application to the director whether the applicant is interested in making the one dollar donation prescribed in this subsection.

            4. Beginning July 1, 2005, the director shall deny the driving privilege of any person who commits fraud or deception during the examination process or who makes application for an instruction permit, driver's license, or nondriver's license which contains or is substantiated with false or fraudulent information or documentation, or who knowingly conceals a material fact or otherwise commits a fraud in any such application. The period of denial shall be one year from the effective date of the denial notice sent by the director. The denial shall become effective ten days after the date the denial notice is mailed to the person. The notice shall be mailed to the person at the last known address shown on the person's driving record. The notice shall be deemed received three days after mailing unless returned by the postal authorities. No such individual shall reapply for a driver's examination, instruction permit, driver's license, or nondriver's license until the period of denial is completed. No individual who is denied the driving privilege under this section shall be eligible for a limited driving privilege issued under section 302.309.

            5. All appeals of denials under this section shall be made as required by section 302.311.

            6. The period of limitation for criminal prosecution under this section shall be extended under subdivision (1) of subsection 3 of section 556.036, RSMo.

            7. The director may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to administer and enforce this section. No rule or portion of a rule promulgated pursuant to the authority of this section shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo.

            8. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter that requires an applicant to provide proof of Missouri residency for renewal of a noncommercial driver's license, noncommercial instruction permit, or nondriver's license, an applicant who is sixty-five years and older and who was previously issued a Missouri noncommercial driver's license, noncommercial instruction permit, or Missouri nondriver's license is exempt from showing proof of Missouri residency.

            9. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, for the renewal of a noncommercial driver's license, noncommercial instruction permit, or nondriver's license, a photocopy of an applicant's United States birth certificate along with another form of identification approved by the department of revenue, including, but not limited to, United States military identification or United States military discharge papers, shall constitute sufficient proof of Missouri citizenship.

            10. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if an applicant does not meet the requirements of subsection 8 of this section and does not have the required documents to prove Missouri residency, United States naturalization, or lawful immigration status, the department may issue a one-year driver's license renewal. This one-time renewal shall only be issued to an applicant who previously has held a Missouri noncommercial driver's license, noncommercial instruction permit, or nondriver's license for a period of fifteen years or more and who does not have the required documents to prove Missouri residency, United States naturalization, or lawful immigration status. After the expiration of the one-year period, no further renewal shall be provided without the applicant producing proof of Missouri residency, United States naturalization, or lawful immigration status.

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