S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7461
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 10, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BRONSON -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the desig-
nation of sex by applicants for non-driver identification cards, driv-
ers' licenses and learners' permits; in relation to making technical
corrections to such law; and to repeal certain provisions of such law
relating thereto
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 490 of the vehicle and traffic
law, as amended by chapter 465 of the laws of 2012, the third undesig-
nated paragraph as amended by chapter 248 of the laws of 2016, is
amended to read as follows:
2. Application. (A) Any person to whom a driver's license or learner's
permit has not been issued by the commissioner, or whose driver's
license or learner's permit is expired, suspended, revoked or surren-
dered, may make application to the commissioner for the issuance of an
identification card. The commissioner shall ensure that space is
provided on the application so that the applicant shall register or
decline registration in the donate life registry for organ and tissue
donations pursuant to section forty-three hundred ten of the public
health law and that the following is stated on the application in clear
and conspicuous type:
"You must fill out the following section: Would you like to be added
to the Donate Life Registry? Check box for 'yes' or 'skip this ques-
tion'."
The commissioner of health shall not maintain records of any person
who checks "skip this question". Except where the application is made in
person or electronically, failure to check a box shall not impair the
validity of an application, and failure to check "yes" or checking "skip
this question" shall not be construed to imply a wish not to donate. In
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11090-02-1
A. 7461 2
the case of an applicant under eighteen years of age, checking "yes"
shall not constitute consent to make an anatomical gift or registration
in the donate life registry, except as otherwise provided pursuant to
the provisions of paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section forty-
three hundred one of the public health law. Where an applicant has
previously consented to make an anatomical gift or registered in the
donate life registry, checking "skip this question" or failing to check
a box shall not impair that consent or registration.
(B) THE IDENTIFICATION CARD SHALL DISPLAY THE SEX DESIGNATION OF M, F,
OR X AS CERTIFIED BY THE APPLICANT, WITH NO ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION
REQUIRED. THE APPLICANT MAY AMEND THE SEX DESIGNATION OF THEIR IDENTIFI-
CATION CARD UPON REQUEST.
§ 2. Subdivision 1 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as
amended by chapter 37 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read as
follows:
1. Application for license. Application for a driver's license shall
be made to the commissioner. The fee prescribed by law may be submitted
with such application. The applicant shall furnish such proof of identi-
ty, age, and fitness as may be required by the commissioner. With
respect to a non-commercial driver's license or learner's permit which
does not meet federal standards for identification, in addition to the
acceptable proofs of age and identity approved by the commissioner as of
January first, two thousand nineteen, acceptable proof of identity shall
also include, but not be limited to, a valid, unexpired foreign passport
issued by the applicant's country of citizenship (which shall also be
eligible as proof of age), a valid, unexpired consular identification
document issued by a consulate from the applicant's country of citizen-
ship, or a valid foreign driver's license that includes a photo image of
the applicant and which is unexpired or expired for less than twenty-
four months of its date of expiration, as primary forms of such proof.
Nothing contained in this subdivision shall be deemed to preclude the
commissioner from approving additional proofs of identity and age. THE
LICENSE SHALL DISPLAY THE SEX DESIGNATION OF M, F, OR X AS CERTIFIED BY
THE APPLICANT, WITH NO ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED. THE APPLICANT
MAY AMEND THE SEX DESIGNATION OF THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE UPON REQUEST.
UPON AMENDMENT OF THE SEX DESIGNATION, THE CHANGE SHALL BE MADE CONSIST-
ENT THROUGH ALL AFFILIATED RECORDS WITHIN THE CONTROL OF THE DEPARTMENT.
The commissioner may also provide that the application procedure shall
include the taking of a photo image or images of the applicant in
accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the commissioner. In
addition, the commissioner also shall require that the applicant provide
[his or her] SUCH APPLICANT'S social security number or, in lieu there-
of, with respect to an application for a non-commercial driver's license
or learner's permit which does not meet federal standards for identifi-
cation, an affidavit signed by such applicant that they have not been
issued a social security number. The commissioner also shall provide
space on the application so that the applicant may register in the New
York state organ and tissue donor registry under section forty-three
hundred ten of the public health law with the following stated on the
application in clear and conspicuous type:
"You must fill out the following section: Would you like to be added
to the Donate Life Registry? Check box for 'yes' or 'skip this ques-
tion'."
The commissioner of health shall not maintain records of any person
who checks "skip this question". Except where the application is made in
person or electronically, failure to check a box shall not impair the
A. 7461 3
validity of an application, and failure to check "yes" or checking "skip
this question" shall not be construed to imply a wish not to donate. In
the case of an applicant under eighteen years of age, checking "yes"
shall not constitute consent to make an anatomical gift or registration
in the donate life registry, except as otherwise provided pursuant to
the provisions of paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section forty-
three hundred one of the public health law. Where an applicant has
previously consented to make an anatomical gift or registered in the
donate life registry, checking "skip this question" or failing to check
a box shall not impair that consent or registration. IN ADDITION, THE
COMMISSIONER SHALL PROVIDE SPACE ON THE APPLICATION SO THAT THE APPLI-
CANT MAY REQUEST A NOTATION UPON SUCH APPLICANT'S LICENSE THAT SUCH
APPLICANT IS A VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES. In addition,
an applicant for a commercial driver's license who will operate a
commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce shall certify that such
applicant meets the requirements to operate a commercial motor vehicle,
as set forth in public law 99-570, title XII, and title 49 of the code
of federal regulations, and all regulations promulgated by the United
States secretary of transportation under the hazardous materials trans-
portation act. In addition, an applicant for a commercial driver's
license shall submit a medical certificate at such intervals as required
by the federal motor carrier safety improvement act of 1999 and Part
383.71(h) of title 49 of the code of federal regulations relating to
medical certification and in a manner prescribed by the commissioner.
For purposes of this section and sections five hundred three, five
hundred ten-a, and five hundred ten-aa of this title, the terms "medical
certificate" and "medical certification" shall mean a form substantially
in compliance with the form set forth in Part 391.43(h) of title 49 of
the code of federal regulations. Upon a determination that the holder of
a commercial driver's license has made any false statement, with respect
to the application for such license, the commissioner shall revoke such
license.
§ 3. Subdivision 1 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as
amended by chapter 487 of the laws of 2012, is REPEALED.
§ 4. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any
rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its
effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such
date.