Senate Bill S7570A

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S7570A

SPONSOR: HAMILTON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to a driver's
license issued to a person granted federal temporary protected status

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1: The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
section 502-b to read as follows: s 502-b. Temporary protected status
beneficiary licensing. 1. Prevention of license suspension.  Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, the department shall not cancel,
suspend or rescind the driver's license, learner's permit, or non-driver
identification card issued to an individual granted federal temporary
protected status for such individual's country of origin. 2. Application
for license. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, such department
shall allow an individual who was formerly granted temporary protected
status to apply for or renew such individual's driver's license, lear-
ners permit, or non-driver identification card if such individual meets
all requirements other than the requirements related to immigration
              

status.

Section 2: This act shall take effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The New York State Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries are
deeply integrated into the economic and social life of New York State.
They have lived in the U.S for an average of 15 years.  TPS vast majori-
ty are from Haiti, El Salvador, and Honduras. New York State TPS holders
total population consist of 5,200 Haitians, 16,200 Salvadorans, and
4,600 Hondurans.

A driver's license is a crucial throughout most of New York where public
transportation is limited or non-existent. As a result, simple needs
like traveling to work, picking up groceries, and dropping a child off
at school become a struggle.

Allowing the Department of Motor Vehicles to allow immigrants who
enrolled in TPS to retain their driver's licenses, would remove the
daily roadblocks people face without a vehicle and makes it easier for
all New Yorkers to provide for their families. Even New York City with
its extensive subway and bus network, there are still transit deserts in
many communities and long indirect routes to neighboring locations
otherwise close by car. Allowing immigrants to keep licenses would not
only cut hours to travel off New York City commuters, it would continue
to generate revenues.

The New York State working class consists of 3,70o TPS Haitian workers.
$262.9 million dollars would be lost from state GDP annually without
Haitian workers who hold TPS. 47.7 percent of Haitian workers with TPS
work in health care and social assistance. Each year in New York City
TPS recipients from Haiti account for a scorching $91 million dollars in
income.

The New York State working consists of 13,50o TPS Salvadorans workers.
$958.3 million would be lost from state GDP annually without Salvadoran
workers who hold TPS. 19.9 percent of Salvadoran workers with TPS work
in accommodation and food services; 15.6 percent work in manufacturing;
and 11.7 percent work in administrative and support and waste management
services. Each year in New York City TPS recipients from El Salvador
account for approximately $104 million dollars in income.

The New York State working class consists of 3,800 TPS Honduran workers.
$271.3 million would be lost from state GDP annually without Honduran
workers who hold TPS. 21.3 percent of Honduran workers with TPS work in
construction. Each year in New York City TPS recipients from Honduras
account for $64 million in income.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

No prior legislative history.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Positive from increased DMV fee collections.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.