New York S 52: Relates to requiring a written exam upon renewal of a driver's license

Bill Text

STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
52
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
(Prefiled)
January 4, 2023
___________
Introduced by Sens. GOUNARDES, HARCKHAM -- read twice and ordered print-
ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transporta-
tion
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring a
written exam upon renewal of 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. 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. In addition, the commissioner shall
16 require an applicant for renewal to pass a written examination with
17 respect to the laws relating to traffic and other matters as the commis-
18 sioner may prescribe including, but not limited to those subjects set
19 forth in subdivision four of this section. The commissioner may provide
20 Infor applicants to complete such examination online or in person.
21 addition, an applicant for renewal of a license containing a hazardous
22 material endorsement shall pass an examination to retain such endorse-
23 ment. The commissioner shall, with respect to the renewal of a hazardous
EXPLANATION--Matter in (underscored) is new; matter in bracketsitalics
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01504-01-3

S. 52 2
1 materials endorsement, comply with the requirements imposed upon states
2 by sections 383.141 and 1572.13 of title 49 of the code of federal regu-
3 lations. A renewal of such license shall be issued by the commissioner
4 upon approval of such application, except that no such license shall be
5 issued if its issuance would be inconsistent with the provisions of
6 section five hundred sixteen of this title, and except that the commis-
7 sioner may refuse to renew such license if the applicant is the holder
8 of a currently valid or renewable license to drive issued by another
9 state or foreign country unless the applicant surrenders such license.
10 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
11 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
12 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
13 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
14 completed on or before such effective date.