Authorizes the department of motor vehicles to issue standard drivers' licenses and restricts what information can be retained and given out on those applying or holding standard drivers' licenses.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3675--B
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CRESPO, NOLAN, GLICK, DINOWITZ, L. ROSENTHAL,
ABINANTI, SIMOTAS, QUART, SEAWRIGHT, SIMON, GOTTFRIED, PEOPLES-STOKES,
WEPRIN, MOSLEY, DE LA ROSA, HYNDMAN, PERRY, JAFFEE, DILAN, WALKER,
DICKENS, ORTIZ, BRONSON, EPSTEIN, SAYEGH, RAMOS, PICHARDO, BUCHWALD,
THIELE, CRUZ, OTIS, MAGNARELLI, JACOBSON, CARROLL, REYES, NIOU,
PAULIN, FERNANDEZ, BENEDETTO, TAYLOR, RAYNOR, ARROYO, RODRIGUEZ, HEVE-
SI, PRETLOW, DenDEKKER, LIFTON, D. ROSENTHAL, RIVERA, CAHILL, BLAKE,
D'URSO, JEAN-PIERRE, KIM, HUNTER, DAVILA, STECK, RICHARDSON, GALEF,
JOYNER, FALL, LAVINE, FRONTUS, BARRON, O'DONNELL, STIRPE, WRIGHT,
SOLAGES, FAHY, GANTT -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. LENTOL, ROZIC,
WEINSTEIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
-- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended
and recommitted to said committee -- reported and referred to the
Committee on Codes -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the issuance
of non-commercial drivers' licenses and learners' permits; and to
repeal certain provisions of such law relating to driver's license
applications
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "driver's
2 license access and privacy act".
3 § 2. Section 201 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding
4 five new subdivisions 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 to read as follows:
5 8. Any portion of any record retained by the commissioner in relation
6 to a non-commercial driver's license or learner's permit application or
7 renewal application that contains the photo image or identifies the
8 social security number, telephone number, place of birth, country of
9 origin, place of employment, school or educational institution attended,
10 source of income, status as a recipient of public benefits, the customer
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05648-06-9
A. 3675--B 2
1 identification number associated with a public utilities account,
2 medical information or disability information of the holder of, or
3 applicant for, such license or permit is not a public record and shall
4 not be disclosed in response to any request for records except: (a) to
5 the person who is the subject of such records; or (b) where expressly
6 required pursuant to chapter three hundred three of part A of subtitle
7 vi of title forty-nine of the United States code; or (c) where necessary
8 to comply with a lawful court order, judicial warrant signed by a judge
9 appointed pursuant to article III of the United States constitution, or
10 subpoena for individual records issued pursuant to the criminal proce-
11 dure law or the civil practice law and rules.
12 9. The commissioner shall not disclose or otherwise make accessible
13 original documents or copies of documents collected from non-commercial
14 driver's license or learner's permit applicants or renewal applicants to
15 prove identity, age, or fitness except: (a) to the person who is the
16 subject of such documents; or (b) where expressly required pursuant to
17 chapter three hundred three of part A of subtitle vi of title forty-nine
18 of the United States code; or (c) unless necessary to comply with a
19 lawful court order, judicial warrant signed by a judge appointed pursu-
20 ant to article III of the United States constitution, or subpoena for
21 individual records properly issued pursuant to the criminal procedure
22 law or the civil practice law and rules.
23 10. The commissioner shall not disclose or otherwise make accessible
24 any portion of any record that identifies whether the type of driver's
25 license or learner's permit that a person holds either meets federal
26 standards for identification or does not meet federal standards for
27 identification except: (a) to the person who is the subject of such
28 record; or (b) where expressly required pursuant to chapter three
29 hundred three of part A of subtitle vi of title forty-nine of the United
30 States code; or (c) unless necessary to comply with a lawful court
31 order, judicial warrant signed by a judge appointed pursuant to article
32 III of the United States constitution, or subpoena for individual
33 records properly issued pursuant to the criminal procedure law or the
34 civil practice law and rules.
35 11. For the purposes of this section, whenever a lawful court order,
36 judicial warrant, or subpoena for individual records properly issued
37 pursuant to the criminal procedure law or the civil practice law and
38 rules is presented to the commissioner, only those records, documents,
39 or information specifically sought by such court order, warrant, or
40 subpoena may be disclosed.
41 12. (a) Except as required for the commissioner to issue or renew a
42 driver's license or learner's permit that meets federal standards for
43 identification, the commissioner, and any agent or employee of the
44 commissioner, shall not disclose or make accessible in any manner
45 records or information that he or she maintains, to any agency that
46 primarily enforces immigration law or to any employee or agent of such
47 agency, unless the commissioner is presented with a lawful court order
48 or judicial warrant signed by a judge appointed pursuant to article III
49 of the United States constitution. Upon receiving a request for such
50 records or information from an agency that primarily enforces immi-
51 gration law, the commissioner shall, no later than three days after such
52 request, notify the individual about whom such information was
53 requested, informing such individual of the request and the identity of
54 the agency that made such request.
55 (b) The commissioner shall require any person or entity that receives
56 or has access to records or information from the department to certify
A. 3675--B 3
1 to the commissioner, before such receipt or access, that such person or
2 entity shall not (i) use such records or information for civil immi-
3 gration purposes or (ii) disclose such records or information to any
4 agency that primarily enforces immigration law or to any employee or
5 agent of any such agency unless such disclosure is pursuant to a cooper-
6 ative arrangement between city, state and federal agencies which
7 arrangement does not enforce immigration law and which disclosure is
8 limited to the specific records or information being sought pursuant to
9 such arrangement. In addition to any records required to be kept pursu-
10 ant to subdivision (c) of section 2721 of title 18 of the United States
11 code, any person or entity certifying pursuant to this paragraph shall
12 keep for a period of five years records of all uses and identifying each
13 person or entity that primarily enforces immigration law that received
14 department records or information from such certifying person or entity.
15 Such records shall be maintained in a manner and form prescribed by the
16 commissioner and shall be available for inspection by the commissioner
17 or his or her designee upon his or her request.
18 (c) For purposes of this subdivision, the term "agency that primarily
19 enforces immigration law" shall include, but not be limited to, United
20 States immigration and customs enforcement and United States customs and
21 border protection, and any successor agencies having similar duties.
22 § 3. Subdivision 1 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as
23 amended by chapter 465 of the laws of 2012, the third undesignated para-
24 graph as amended by chapter 248 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read
25 as follows:
26 1. Application for license. Application for a driver's license shall
27 be made to the commissioner. The fee prescribed by law may be submitted
28 with such application. The applicant shall furnish such proof of identi-
29 ty, age, and fitness as may be required by the commissioner. With
30 respect to a non-commercial driver's license or learner's permit which
31 does not meet federal standards for identification, in addition to the
32 acceptable proofs of age and identity approved by the commissioner as of
33 January first, two thousand nineteen, acceptable proof of identity shall
34 also include, but not be limited to, a valid, unexpired foreign passport
35 issued by the applicant's country of citizenship (which shall also be
36 eligible as proof of age), a valid, unexpired consular identification
37 document issued by a consulate from the applicant's country of citizen-
38 ship, or a valid foreign driver's license that includes a photo image of
39 the applicant and which is unexpired or expired for less than twenty-
40 four months of its date of expiration, as primary forms of such proof.
41 Nothing contained in this subdivision shall be deemed to preclude the
42 commissioner from approving additional proofs of identity and age. The
43 commissioner may also provide that the application procedure shall
44 include the taking of a photo image or images of the applicant in
45 accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the commissioner. In
46 addition, the commissioner also shall require that the applicant provide
47 his or her social security number [and] or, in lieu thereof, with
48 respect to an application for a non-commercial driver's license or
49 learner's permit which does not meet federal standards for identifica-
50 tion, an affidavit signed by such applicant that they have not been
51 issued a social security number. The commissioner also shall provide
52 space on the application so that the applicant may register in the New
53 York state organ and tissue donor registry under section forty-three
54 hundred ten of the public health law with the following stated on the
55 application in clear and conspicuous type:
A. 3675--B 4
1 "You must fill out the following section: Would you like to be added
2 to the Donate Life Registry? Check box for 'yes' or 'skip this ques-
3 tion'."
4 The commissioner of health shall not maintain records of any person
5 who checks "skip this question". Except where the application is made in
6 person or electronically, failure to check a box shall not impair the
7 validity of an application, and failure to check "yes" or checking "skip
8 this question" shall not be construed to imply a wish not to donate. In
9 the case of an applicant under eighteen years of age, checking "yes"
10 shall not constitute consent to make an anatomical gift or registration
11 in the donate life registry, except as otherwise provided pursuant to
12 the provisions of paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section forty-
13 three hundred one of the public health law. Where an applicant has
14 previously consented to make an anatomical gift or registered in the
15 donate life registry, checking "skip this question" or failing to check
16 a box shall not impair that consent or registration. In addition, an
17 applicant for a commercial driver's license who will operate a commer-
18 cial motor vehicle in interstate commerce shall certify that such appli-
19 cant meets the requirements to operate a commercial motor vehicle, as
20 set forth in public law 99-570, title XII, and title 49 of the code of
21 federal regulations, and all regulations promulgated by the United
22 States secretary of transportation under the hazardous materials trans-
23 portation act. In addition, an applicant for a commercial driver's
24 license shall submit a medical certificate at such intervals as required
25 by the federal motor carrier safety improvement act of 1999 and Part
26 383.71(h) of title 49 of the code of federal regulations relating to
27 medical certification and in a manner prescribed by the commissioner.
28 For purposes of this section and sections five hundred three, five
29 hundred ten-a, and five hundred ten-aa of this title, the terms "medical
30 certificate" and "medical certification" shall mean a form substantially
31 in compliance with the form set forth in Part 391.43(h) of title 49 of
32 the code of federal regulations. Upon a determination that the holder of
33 a commercial driver's license has made any false statement, with respect
34 to the application for such license, the commissioner shall revoke such
35 license.
36 § 4. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 6 of section 502 of the vehicle and
37 traffic law, as amended by section 3 of part K of chapter 59 of the laws
38 of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
39 (a) A license issued pursuant to subdivision five of this section
40 shall be valid until the expiration date contained thereon, unless such
41 license is suspended, revoked or cancelled. Such license may be renewed
42 by submission of an application for renewal, the fee prescribed by law,
43 proofs of prior licensing, fitness and acceptable vision prescribed by
44 the commissioner, the applicant's social security number or, in lieu
45 thereof, with respect to an application for a non-commercial driver's
46 license or learner's permit which does not meet federal standards for
47 identification, an affidavit signed by such applicant that they have not
48 been issued a social security number, and if required by the commission-
49 er, a photo image of the applicant in such numbers and form as the
50 commissioner shall prescribe. In addition, an applicant for renewal of
51 a license containing a hazardous material endorsement shall pass an
52 examination to retain such endorsement. The commissioner shall, with
53 respect to the renewal of a hazardous materials endorsement, comply with
54 the requirements imposed upon states by sections 383.141 and 1572.13 of
55 title 49 of the code of federal regulations. A renewal of such license
56 shall be issued by the commissioner upon approval of such application,
A. 3675--B 5
1 except that no such license shall be issued if its issuance would be
2 inconsistent with the provisions of section five hundred sixteen of this
3 title, and except that the commissioner may refuse to renew such license
4 if the applicant is the holder of a currently valid or renewable license
5 to drive issued by another state or foreign country unless the applicant
6 surrenders such license.
7 § 5. Subdivision 7 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law is
8 REPEALED and two new subdivisions 7 and 8 are added to read as follows:
9 7. Selective service act. The commissioner shall provide separate
10 space on the application for a learner's permit, driver's license, non-
11 driver identification card, or renewal thereof so that any person who is
12 at least eighteen years of age but less than twenty-six years of age who
13 applies to the commissioner for such permit, license, or card or renewal
14 thereof may opt to register with the selective service in accordance
15 with 50 U.S.C. App 451 et. seq., as amended, if such person is subject
16 to such act, and consent to have the commissioner forward the necessary
17 personal information in accordance with this subdivision. Such consent
18 shall be separate from any other certification or signature on such
19 application. The commissioner shall include on the application a brief
20 statement about the requirement of the law, a citation of the act, and
21 the consequences for failing to meet the same. The commissioner shall
22 forward to the selective service system, in an electronic format, the
23 necessary personal information required for registration only of indi-
24 viduals who have affirmatively opted and consented, pursuant to this
25 subdivision, to authorize the commissioner to forward such information
26 to the selective service system.
27 8. Non-commercial drivers' licenses and learners' permits which do not
28 meet federal standards for identification. (a) Non-commercial drivers'
29 licenses and learners' permits which do not meet federal standards for
30 identification shall be issued in such form as the commissioner shall
31 determine, provided that such licenses and permits shall be visually
32 identical to non-commercial drivers' licenses and learners' permits
33 which do meet federal standards for identification except that such
34 licenses and permits may state "Not for Federal Purposes". Provided,
35 however, that the commissioner may promulgate regulations providing for
36 additional design or color indicators for both such non-commercial driv-
37 ers' licenses and learners' permits if required to comply with federal
38 law.
39 (b) Applicants for a non-commercial driver's license or learner's
40 permit or a renewal thereof shall not be required to prove that they are
41 lawfully present in the United States.
42 (c) Application forms for non-commercial drivers' licenses and lear-
43 ners' permits which do not meet federal standards for identification or
44 for renewal thereof shall not state (i) the documents an applicant used
45 to prove age or identity, or (ii) an applicant's ineligibility for a
46 social security number where applicable, or (iii) an applicant's citi-
47 zenship or immigration status.
48 (d) The commissioner and any agent or employee of the commissioner
49 shall not retain the documents or copies of documents presented by
50 applicants for non-commercial drivers' licenses or learners' permits
51 which do not meet federal standards for identification to prove age or
52 identity except for a limited period necessary to ensure the validity
53 and authenticity of such documents.
54 (e) (i) A non-commercial driver's license or learner's permit which
55 does not meet federal standards for identification shall not be used as
56 evidence of a person's citizenship or immigration status, and shall not
A. 3675--B 6
1 be the basis for investigating, arresting, or detaining a person. (ii)
2 Neither the commissioner nor any agent or employee of the commissioner
3 shall inquire about the citizenship or immigration status of any appli-
4 cant for a non-commercial driver's license or learner's permit which
5 does not meet federal standards for identification.
6 § 6. Subdivisions 2 and 3 of section 508 of the vehicle and traffic
7 law, as added by chapter 780 of the laws of 1972, are amended to read as
8 follows:
9 2. Any application required to be filed under this article shall be in
10 a manner and on a form or forms prescribed by the commissioner. The
11 applicant shall furnish all information required by statute and, except
12 as otherwise provided in this title, such other information as the
13 commissioner shall deem appropriate.
14 3. License record. The commissioner shall keep a record of every
15 license issued which record shall be open to public inspection during
16 reasonable business hours. Provided, however, that the following infor-
17 mation whenever contained within the record of non-commercial drivers'
18 licenses and learners' permits shall not be open to public inspection:
19 the photo image, social security number, client identification number,
20 name, address, telephone number, place of birth, country of origin,
21 place of employment, school or educational institution attended, source
22 of income, status as a recipient of public benefits, the customer iden-
23 tification number associated with a public utilities account, medical
24 information or disability information of any holders of, or applicants
25 for, such licenses and permits, and whether such licenses or permits
26 meet federal standards for identification or do not meet federal stand-
27 ards for identification. Neither the commissioner nor his agent shall be
28 required to allow the inspection of an application, or to furnish a copy
29 thereof, or information therefrom, until a license has been issued ther-
30 eon.
31 § 7. Any system or method established by the commissioner of motor
32 vehicles to determine eligibility for a non-commercial driver's license
33 or learner's permit which does not meet federal standards for identifi-
34 cation shall not be structured in a manner that substantially disadvan-
35 tages or denies such licenses or permits to applicants who do not have
36 social security numbers or who use documents issued by a foreign govern-
37 ment to prove age or identity.
38 § 8. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
39 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
40 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
41 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
42 completed on or before such date.