S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7766
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 21, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. NIOU -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to automat-
ically extending the renewal of driver's licenses and non-driver iden-
tification cards
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 6 of section 502 of the vehi-
cle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 37 of the laws of 2019, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) A license issued pursuant to subdivision five of this section
shall be valid until the expiration date contained thereon, unless such
license is suspended, revoked or cancelled, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT IF
THE EXPIRATION OF A LICENSE OCCURS DURING THE TWO THOUSAND TWENTY OR TWO
THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE CALENDAR YEAR, SUCH LICENSE SHALL AUTOMATICALLY
RENEW AND BE VALID FOR TWO YEARS FROM THE EXPIRATION DATE OF SUCH
LICENSE. Such license may be renewed by submission of an application for
renewal, the fee prescribed by law, proofs of prior licensing, fitness
and acceptable vision prescribed by the commissioner, the applicant's
social security number or, in lieu thereof, with respect to an applica-
tion for a non-commercial driver's license or learner's permit which
does not meet federal standards for identification, an affidavit signed
by such applicant that they have not been issued a social security
number, and if required by the commissioner, a photo image of the appli-
cant in such numbers and form as the commissioner shall prescribe. In
addition, an applicant for renewal of a license containing a hazardous
material endorsement shall pass an examination to retain such endorse-
ment. The commissioner shall, with respect to the renewal of a hazardous
materials endorsement, comply with the requirements imposed upon states
by sections 383.141 and 1572.13 of title 49 of the code of federal regu-
lations. A renewal of such license shall be issued by the commissioner
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10811-01-1
A. 7766 2
upon approval of such application, except that no such license shall be
issued if its issuance would be inconsistent with the provisions of
section five hundred sixteen of this title, and except that the commis-
sioner may refuse to renew such license if the applicant is the holder
of a currently valid or renewable license to drive issued by another
state or foreign country unless the applicant surrenders such license.
§ 2. Subdivision 1 of section 491 of the vehicle and traffic law, as
amended by chapter 580 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as
follows:
1. Period of validity. An identification card shall be valid from the
date of issuance until the date of expiration determined by the commis-
sioner, except that (a) any person sixty-two years of age or older or
(b) any recipient of supplemental security income benefits defined in
section two hundred eight of the social services law, shall be eligible
for a card which expires ten years after the date of issuance, PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, THAT IF THE EXPIRATION OF AN IDENTIFICATION CARD OCCURS DURING
THE TWO THOUSAND TWENTY OR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE CALENDAR YEAR, SUCH
IDENTIFICATION CARD SHALL AUTOMATICALLY RENEW AND BE VALID FOR TWO YEARS
FROM THE DATE OF EXPIRATION OF SUCH IDENTIFICATION CARD. Such dates of
issuance and expiration shall be noted on the identification card.
However, the prior identification card shall expire on the date of issu-
ance of a renewal of such prior identification card. The commissioner
may extend the period of validity of an identification card in a manner
and form prescribed by the commissioner.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall be deemed to
have been in full force and effect on and after January 1, 2020.