Bill Text: NY S02226 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Enables veterans to receive benefit information upon applying for or renewing a driver's license.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-05-21 - referred to transportation [S02226 Detail]

Download: New_York-2013-S02226-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         2226
                              2013-2014 Regular Sessions
                                   I N  S E N A T E
                                   January 14, 2013
                                      ___________
       Introduced   by   Sens.   RIVERA,   LARKIN,   DIAZ,   DILAN,   GIANARIS,
         HASSELL-THOMPSON, KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and  when
         printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
       AN  ACT  to  amend the vehicle and traffic law and the executive law, in
         relation to enabling veterans  to  receive  benefit  information  upon
         applying for or renewing a driver's license
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 502 of  the  vehicle  and  traffic
    2  law,  as  amended  by  section  1 of part D of chapter 58 of the laws of
    3  2012, is amended to read as follows:
    4    1. Application for license.  Application for a driver's license  shall
    5  be made to the commissioner.  The fee prescribed by law may be submitted
    6  with such application. The applicant shall furnish such proof of identi-
    7  ty, age, and fitness as may be required by the commissioner. The commis-
    8  sioner may also provide that the application procedure shall include the
    9  taking  of  a  photo image or images of the applicant in accordance with
   10  rules and regulations prescribed by the commissioner. In  addition,  the
   11  commissioner  also  shall  require that the applicant provide his or her
   12  social security number and provide space on the application so that  the
   13  applicant  may  register  in  the  New York state organ and tissue donor
   14  registry under section forty-three hundred ten of the public health law.
   15  IN ADDITION, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ENSURE THAT SPACE IS PROVIDED ON THE
   16  APPLICATION TO ENABLE ANY APPLICANT WHO HAS SERVED IN THE  ARMED  FORCES
   17  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES FOR ANY DURATION OF TIME, TO REGISTER TO RECEIVE
   18  INFORMATION FROM THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS BY EMAIL OR TELEPHONE
   19  REGARDING BENEFITS TO WHICH SUCH APPLICANT MAY BE ENTITLED AND THAT  THE
   20  FOLLOWING  IS  STATED  ON  THE  APPLICATION:  "BY CHECKING THIS BOX, YOU
   21  CERTIFY THAT YOU SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES AND YOU
   22  GIVE PERMISSION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO SHARE  YOUR  NAME
   23  AND CONTACT INFORMATION WITH THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS TO ENABLE
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD05515-03-3
       S. 2226                             2
    1  THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS TO CONTACT YOU VIA EMAIL, TELEPHONE OR
    2  MAIL  REGARDING  BENEFITS TO WHICH YOU MAY BE ENTITLED". In addition, an
    3  applicant for a commercial driver's license who will operate  a  commer-
    4  cial motor vehicle in interstate commerce shall certify that such appli-
    5  cant  meets  the  requirements to operate a commercial motor vehicle, as
    6  set forth in public law 99-570, title XII, and title 49 of the  code  of
    7  federal  regulations,  and  all  regulations  promulgated  by the United
    8  States secretary of transportation under the hazardous materials  trans-
    9  portation  act.  In  addition,  an  applicant  for a commercial driver's
   10  license shall submit a medical certificate at such intervals as required
   11  by the federal motor carrier safety improvement act  of  1999  and  Part
   12  383.71(h)  of  title  49  of the code of federal regulations relating to
   13  medical certification and in a manner prescribed  by  the  commissioner.
   14  For  purposes  of  this  section  and  sections five hundred three, five
   15  hundred ten-a, and five hundred ten-aa of this title, the terms "medical
   16  certificate" and "medical certification" shall mean a form substantially
   17  in compliance with the form set forth in Part 391.43(h) of title  49  of
   18  the code of federal regulations. Upon a determination that the holder of
   19  a commercial driver's license has made any false statement, with respect
   20  to  the application for such license, the commissioner shall revoke such
   21  license.
   22    S 2. Subdivision 1 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic  law,  as
   23  separately  amended  by  chapters  465  and  487 of the laws of 2012, is
   24  REPEALED and a new subdivision 1 is added to read as follows:
   25    1. APPLICATION FOR LICENSE. APPLICATION FOR A DRIVER'S  LICENSE  SHALL
   26  BE  MADE TO THE COMMISSIONER. THE FEE PRESCRIBED BY LAW MAY BE SUBMITTED
   27  WITH SUCH APPLICATION. THE APPLICANT SHALL FURNISH SUCH PROOF OF IDENTI-
   28  TY, AGE, AND FITNESS AS MAY  BE  REQUIRED  BY  THE  COMMISSIONER.    THE
   29  COMMISSIONER  MAY  ALSO  PROVIDE  THAT  THE  APPLICATION PROCEDURE SHALL
   30  INCLUDE THE TAKING OF A PHOTO  IMAGE  OR  IMAGES  OF  THE  APPLICANT  IN
   31  ACCORDANCE WITH RULES AND REGULATIONS PRESCRIBED BY THE COMMISSIONER. IN
   32  ADDITION, THE COMMISSIONER ALSO SHALL REQUIRE THAT THE APPLICANT PROVIDE
   33  HIS  OR  HER SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND PROVIDE SPACE ON THE APPLICATION
   34  SO THAT THE APPLICANT MAY REGISTER IN  THE  NEW  YORK  STATE  ORGAN  AND
   35  TISSUE  DONOR  REGISTRY  UNDER  SECTION  FORTY-THREE  HUNDRED TEN OF THE
   36  PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, AND SPACE TO ENABLE ANY APPLICANT WHO HAS  SERVED  IN
   37  THE  ARMED  FORCES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES FOR ANY DURATION OF TIME, TO
   38  REGISTER TO RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM THE DIVISION OF  VETERANS'  AFFAIRS
   39  BY  EMAIL OR TELEPHONE REGARDING BENEFITS TO WHICH SUCH APPLICANT MAY BE
   40  ENTITLED AND THAT THE FOLLOWING IS STATED ON THE APPLICATION: "BY CHECK-
   41  ING THIS BOX, YOU CERTIFY THAT YOU SERVED IN THE  ARMED  FORCES  OF  THE
   42  UNITED  STATES  AND YOU GIVE PERMISSION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHI-
   43  CLES TO SHARE YOUR NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION  WITH  THE  DIVISION  OF
   44  VETERANS' AFFAIRS TO ENABLE THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS TO CONTACT
   45  YOU  VIA EMAIL, TELEPHONE OR MAIL REGARDING BENEFITS TO WHICH YOU MAY BE
   46  ENTITLED". IN ADDITION, AN APPLICANT FOR A COMMERCIAL  DRIVER'S  LICENSE
   47  WHO WILL OPERATE A COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE SHALL
   48  CERTIFY  THAT SUCH APPLICANT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS TO OPERATE A COMMER-
   49  CIAL MOTOR VEHICLE, AS SET FORTH IN PUBLIC LAW 99-570,  TITLE  XII,  AND
   50  TITLE 49 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, AND ALL REGULATIONS PROMUL-
   51  GATED BY THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION UNDER THE HAZARD-
   52  OUS  MATERIALS  TRANSPORTATION  ACT.  IN  ADDITION,  AN  APPLICANT FOR A
   53  COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE SHALL SUBMIT A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE  AT  SUCH
   54  INTERVALS  AS  REQUIRED  BY THE FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY IMPROVEMENT
   55  ACT OF 1999 AND PART 383.71(H) OF TITLE 49 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL  REGU-
   56  LATIONS  RELATING TO MEDICAL CERTIFICATION AND IN A MANNER PRESCRIBED BY
       S. 2226                             3
    1  THE COMMISSIONER.   FOR PURPOSES  OF  THIS  SECTION  AND  SECTIONS  FIVE
    2  HUNDRED  THREE,  FIVE  HUNDRED  TEN-A,  AND  FIVE HUNDRED TEN-AA OF THIS
    3  TITLE, THE TERMS "MEDICAL CERTIFICATE" AND "MEDICAL CERTIFICATION" SHALL
    4  MEAN  A FORM SUBSTANTIALLY IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FORM SET FORTH IN PART
    5  391.43(H) OF TITLE 49 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS. UPON A  DETER-
    6  MINATION  THAT  THE HOLDER OF A COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE HAS MADE ANY
    7  FALSE STATEMENT, WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION FOR SUCH  LICENSE,  THE
    8  COMMISSIONER SHALL REVOKE SUCH LICENSE.
    9    S  3.  Subdivision 1 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as
   10  added by section two of this act, is amended to read as follows:
   11    1. Application for license. Application for a driver's  license  shall
   12  be  made to the commissioner. The fee prescribed by law may be submitted
   13  with such application. The applicant shall furnish such proof of identi-
   14  ty, age, and fitness as may  be  required  by  the  commissioner.    The
   15  commissioner  may  also  provide  that  the  application procedure shall
   16  include the taking of a photo  image  or  images  of  the  applicant  in
   17  accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the commissioner. In
   18  addition, the commissioner also shall require that the applicant provide
   19  his  or  her social security number and provide space on the application
   20  so that the applicant may register in  the  New  York  state  organ  and
   21  tissue  donor  registry  under  section  forty-three  hundred ten of the
   22  public health law, [and space to enable any applicant who has served  in
   23  the  armed  forces  of  the  United  States for any duration of time, to
   24  register to receive information from the division of  veterans'  affairs
   25  by  email or telephone regarding benefits to which such applicant may be
   26  entitled and that the following is stated on the application: "By check-
   27  ing this box, you certify that you served in the  armed  forces  of  the
   28  United  States  and you give permission to the department of motor vehi-
   29  cles to share your name and contact information  with  the  division  of
   30  veterans' affairs to enable the division of veterans' affairs to contact
   31  you  via email, telephone or mail regarding benefits to which you may be
   32  entitled"] AND SPACE SO THAT THE APPLICANT MAY REQUEST A  NOTATION  UPON
   33  SUCH  LICENSE  THAT  HE  OR  SHE IS A VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED
   34  FORCES.  In addition, an applicant for a commercial driver's license who
   35  will operate a commercial motor vehicle  in  interstate  commerce  shall
   36  certify  that such applicant meets the requirements to operate a commer-
   37  cial motor vehicle, as set forth in public law 99-570,  title  XII,  and
   38  title 49 of the code of federal regulations, and all regulations promul-
   39  gated by the United States secretary of transportation under the hazard-
   40  ous  materials  transportation  act.  In  addition,  an  applicant for a
   41  commercial driver's license shall submit a medical certificate  at  such
   42  intervals  as  required  by the federal motor carrier safety improvement
   43  act of 1999 and Part 383.71(h) of title 49 of the code of federal  regu-
   44  lations  relating to medical certification and in a manner prescribed by
   45  the commissioner.   For purposes  of  this  section  and  sections  five
   46  hundred  three,  five  hundred  ten-a,  and  five hundred ten-aa of this
   47  title, the terms "medical certificate" and "medical certification" shall
   48  mean a form substantially in compliance with the form set forth in  Part
   49  391.43(h)  of title 49 of the code of federal regulations. Upon a deter-
   50  mination that the holder of a commercial driver's license has  made  any
   51  false  statement,  with respect to the application for such license, the
   52  commissioner shall revoke such license.
   53    S 4. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 6 of section 502 of the vehicle  and
   54  traffic law, as amended by section 3 of part K of chapter 59 of the laws
   55  of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
       S. 2226                             4
    1    (a)  A  license  issued  pursuant  to subdivision five of this section
    2  shall be valid until the expiration date contained thereon, unless  such
    3  license  is suspended, revoked or cancelled. Such license may be renewed
    4  by submission of an application for renewal, the fee prescribed by  law,
    5  proofs  of  prior licensing, fitness and acceptable vision prescribed by
    6  the  commissioner,  the  applicant's  social  security  number,  and  if
    7  required  by  the  commissioner  a  photo image of the applicant in such
    8  numbers and form as the commissioner shall prescribe.  IN ADDITION,  THE
    9  COMMISSIONER  SHALL ENSURE THAT SPACE IS PROVIDED ON THE APPLICATION FOR
   10  RENEWAL TO ENABLE ANY APPLICANT WHO HAS SERVED IN THE  ARMED  FORCES  OF
   11  THE  UNITED  STATES TO REGISTER TO RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM THE DIVISION
   12  OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS BY EMAIL OR TELEPHONE REGARDING BENEFITS  TO  WHICH
   13  SUCH  APPLICANT  MAY BE ENTITLED AND THAT THE FOLLOWING IS STATED ON THE
   14  APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL: "BY CHECKING THIS BOX,  YOU  CERTIFY  THAT  YOU
   15  SERVED  IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES AND YOU GIVE PERMISSION
   16  TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES  TO  SHARE  YOUR  NAME  AND  CONTACT
   17  INFORMATION  WITH  THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS TO ENABLE THE DIVI-
   18  SION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS TO CONTACT YOU VIA EMAIL,  TELEPHONE  OR  MAIL
   19  REGARDING BENEFITS TO WHICH YOU MAY BE ENTITLED". In addition, an appli-
   20  cant  for  renewal of a license containing a hazardous material endorse-
   21  ment shall pass an examination to retain such endorsement.  The  commis-
   22  sioner  shall,  with  respect  to  the  renewal of a hazardous materials
   23  endorsement,  comply  with  the  requirements  imposed  upon  states  by
   24  sections  383.141  and  1572.13 of title 49 of the code of federal regu-
   25  lations. A renewal of such license shall be issued by  the  commissioner
   26  upon  approval of such application, except that no such license shall be
   27  issued if its issuance would be  inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of
   28  section  five hundred sixteen of this title, and except that the commis-
   29  sioner may refuse to renew such license if the applicant is  the  holder
   30  of  a  currently  valid  or renewable license to drive issued by another
   31  state or foreign country unless the applicant surrenders such license.
   32    S 5. Subdivision 3 of section 490 of the vehicle and  traffic  law  is
   33  amended by adding a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:
   34    (D)  IN ADDITION, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ENSURE THAT SPACE IS PROVIDED
   35  ON THE APPLICATION AND THE APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL TO ENABLE ANY  APPLI-
   36  CANT WHO HAS SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES TO REGISTER
   37  TO  RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS BY EMAIL,
   38  TELEPHONE OR MAIL REGARDING BENEFITS TO  WHICH  SUCH  APPLICANT  MAY  BE
   39  ENTITLED  AND THAT THE FOLLOWING IS STATED ON THE APPLICATION AND APPLI-
   40  CATION FOR RENEWAL: "BY CHECKING THIS BOX, YOU CERTIFY THAT  YOU  SERVED
   41  IN  THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES AND YOU GIVE PERMISSION TO THE
   42  DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO SHARE YOUR NAME AND CONTACT  INFORMATION
   43  WITH  THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS TO ENABLE THE DIVISION OF VETER-
   44  ANS' AFFAIRS TO CONTACT YOU VIA EMAIL OR TELEPHONE REGARDING BENEFITS TO
   45  WHICH YOU MAY BE ENTITLED".
   46    S 6. Section 508 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a
   47  new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
   48    6. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL APPOINT AGENTS TO ACT ON HIS OR  HER  BEHALF
   49  TO  COLLECT,  STORE  AND  MAKE  AVAILABLE  TO  THE DIVISION OF VETERANS'
   50  AFFAIRS THE NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION OF AN APPLICANT WHO  SERVED  IN
   51  THE  ARMED  FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES FOR ANY DURATION OF TIME AND WHO
   52  REQUESTS TO RECEIVE BENEFIT INFORMATION FROM THE DIVISION  OF  VETERANS'
   53  AFFAIRS  PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OR PARAGRAPH (A) OF SUBDIVISION SIX
   54  OF SECTION FIVE HUNDRED TWO OF THIS ARTICLE.
   55    S 7. Section 353 of the executive law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
   56  subdivision 21 to read as follows:
       S. 2226                             5
    1    21.  TO  COORDINATE  WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES PURSUANT TO
    2  SUBDIVISION ONE OR PARAGRAPH (A) OF  SUBDIVISION  SIX  OF  SECTION  FIVE
    3  HUNDRED  TWO OF THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW TO RETRIEVE NAME AND CONTACT
    4  INFORMATION OF APPLICANTS WHO SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES OF  THE  UNITED
    5  STATES  FOR  ANY DURATION OF TIME WHO ARE APPLYING FOR OR RENEWING THEIR
    6  DRIVER'S LICENSES AND WHO REQUEST TO BE CONTACTED BY  THE  DIVISION  VIA
    7  EMAIL,  TELEPHONE  OR MAIL REGARDING BENEFITS TO WHICH THEY MAY BE ENTI-
    8  TLED.
    9    S 8. Subdivision 3 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic  law,  as
   10  amended  by  chapter  458  of  the  laws  of 2011, is amended to read as
   11  follows:
   12    3. Application for learner's permit. An application  for  a  learner's
   13  permit  shall be included in the application for a license.  THE COMMIS-
   14  SIONER SHALL ENSURE THAT SPACE IS PROVIDED ON THE APPLICATION TO  ENABLE
   15  ANY  APPLICANT  WHO  HAS SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES
   16  FOR ANY DURATION OF TIME, TO REGISTER OR RECEIVE  INFORMATION  FROM  THE
   17  DIVISION  OF  VETERANS' AFFAIRS BY EMAIL OR TELEPHONE REGARDING BENEFITS
   18  TO WHICH SUCH APPLICANT MAY BE ENTITLED AND THAT THE FOLLOWING IS STATED
   19  ON THE APPLICATION: "BY CHECKING THIS BOX, YOU CERTIFY THAT  YOU  SERVED
   20  IN  THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES AND YOU GIVE PERMISSION TO THE
   21  DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO SHARE YOUR NAME AND CONTACT  INFORMATION
   22  WITH  THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS TO ENABLE THE DIVISION OF VETER-
   23  ANS' AFFAIRS TO CONTACT YOU VIA EMAIL, TELEPHONE OR MAIL REGARDING BENE-
   24  FITS TO WHICH YOU MAY BE ENTITLED". A learner's permit shall  be  issued
   25  in such form as the commissioner shall determine but shall not be issued
   26  unless the applicant has successfully passed the vision test required by
   27  this section and the test set forth in paragraph (a) of subdivision four
   28  of  this section with respect to laws relating to traffic and ability to
   29  read and comprehend traffic signs and  symbols  and  has  satisfactorily
   30  completed  any  course required pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision
   31  four of this section. Upon acceptance of an application for a  learner's
   32  permit  the  commissioner  shall  provide  the applicant with a driver's
   33  manual which includes but is not limited to the laws relating  to  traf-
   34  fic,  the  laws  relating  to and physiological effects of driving while
   35  ability impaired and driving while intoxicated, the law  for  exercising
   36  due  care  to avoid colliding with a parked, stopped or standing author-
   37  ized emergency vehicle or hazard  vehicle  pursuant  to  section  eleven
   38  hundred  forty-four-a of this chapter, explanations of traffic signs and
   39  symbols and such other matters as the commissioner may prescribe.
   40    S 9. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
   41  have become a law; provided, however, that section two of this act shall
   42  take  effect October 3, 2013; and provided further that section three of
   43  this act shall take effect October 3, 2016.
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