STATE OF NEW YORK
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7349
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 10, 2025
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Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- 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, in relation to requiring
applicants for the renewal of a driver's license to complete a vision
test
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 6 of section 502 of the vehi-
2 cle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 37 of the laws of 2019, is
3 amended to read as follows:
4 (a) A license issued pursuant to subdivision five of this section
5 shall be valid until the expiration date contained thereon, unless such
6 license is suspended, revoked or cancelled. Such license may be renewed
7 by submission of an application for renewal, the fee prescribed by law,
8 proofs of prior licensing, fitness and acceptable vision prescribed by
9 the commissioner, the applicant's social security number or, in lieu
10 thereof, with respect to an application for a non-commercial driver's
11 license or learner's permit which does not meet federal standards for
12 identification, an affidavit signed by such applicant that they have not
13 been issued a social security number, and if required by the commission-
14 er, a photo image of the applicant in such numbers and form as the
15 commissioner shall prescribe. Such proof of acceptable vision shall
16 require the applicant to pass a vision test administered by the commis-
17 sioner or such commissioner's agent, or to submit a certification,
18 signed by a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, optome-
19 trist or optician, attesting that the applicant has adequate vision to
20 operate a motor vehicle as determined by the commissioner. In addition,
21 an applicant for renewal of a license containing a hazardous material
22 endorsement shall pass an examination to retain such endorsement. The
23 commissioner shall, with respect to the renewal of a hazardous materials
24 endorsement, comply with the requirements imposed upon states by
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05581-01-5
S. 7349 2
1 sections 383.141 and 1572.13 of title 49 of the code of federal regu-
2 lations. A renewal of such license shall be issued by the commissioner
3 upon approval of such application, except that no such license shall be
4 issued if its issuance would be inconsistent with the provisions of
5 section five hundred sixteen of this title, and except that the commis-
6 sioner may refuse to renew such license if the applicant is the holder
7 of a currently valid or renewable license to drive issued by another
8 state or foreign country unless the applicant surrenders such license.
9 § 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
10 have become a law.
