STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3707
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 7, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. EPSTEIN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee 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 his or her agent, or to submit a certification, signed by a
18 physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, optometrist or opti-
19 cian, attesting that the applicant has adequate vision to operate a
20 motor vehicle as determined by the commissioner. In addition, an appli-
21 cant for renewal of a license containing a hazardous material endorse-
22 ment shall pass an examination to retain such endorsement. The commis-
23 sioner 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.
LBD07500-01-3
A. 3707 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.
