NY State Senate Bill 2021-S119A

Senate Bill S119A

2021-2022 Legislative Session

Allows valid certificates of marriage from foreign governments and religious institutions as acceptable documentation to change a name on a driver's license, learner's permit, or identification card

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

Please enter your contact information

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

A valid email address is required.

Home address is used to determine the senate district in which you reside. Your support or opposition to this bill is then shared immediately with the senator who represents you.

Optional services from the NY State Senate:

Create an account. An account allows you to officially support or oppose key legislation, sign petitions with a single click, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Include a custom message for your Senator? (Optional)

Enter a message to your senator. Many New Yorkers use this to share the reasoning behind their support or opposition to the bill. Others might share a personal anecdote about how the bill would affect them or people they care about.

Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 05, 2022	referred to transportation
Jun 10, 2021	committed to rules
Feb 08, 2021	advanced to third reading
Feb 03, 2021	2nd report cal.
Feb 02, 2021	1st report cal.273
Jan 27, 2021	print number 119a
Jan 27, 2021	amend (t) and recommit to transportation
Jan 06, 2021	referred to transportation

Votes

- Feb 2, 2021 - Transportation Committee Vote
  S119A
  
  8
  
  Aye
  
  2
  
  Nay
  
  3
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Transportation Committee Vote: Feb 2, 2021
      
      aye (8)
      
      Cooney
      
      Kaminsky
      
      Kaplan
      
      Kennedy
      
      Liu
      
      Ramos
      
      Reichlin-Melnick
      
      Skoufis
      
      nay (2)
      
      Griffo
      
      Serino
      
      aye wr (3)
      
      Gallivan
      
      Mattera
      
      Persaud

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2021-S119 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A3704
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§502 & 490, V & T L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S7239, A9083
2023-2024: S4055
2025-2026: S5487

2021-S119 - Summary

Allows valid certificates of marriage from foreign governments and religious institutions as acceptable documentation to change a name on a driver's license, learner's permit, or identification card.

2021-S119 - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S119

SPONSOR: KAPLAN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to allowing
certificates of marriage from foreign governments and religious insti-
tutions as acceptable documentation to change a name on the driver's
license or non-driver identification card

 
PURPOSE:

This legislation would make a marriage certificate issued by a foreign
government, or a bona fide religious institution that issues certif-
icates of marriage in a foreign country acceptable forms when an indi-
vidual seeks to change their name to their married name.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends Section 502 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law by adding a
new subdivision 1-a to require in addition to other acceptable documents

for changing a person's name on a driver's license, a certificate of
marriage from the government of a foreign country or from a bona fide
religious institution that issues certificates of marriage in a foreign
country.

Section 2 amends Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 502 by adding a new
subdivision 3-a to add to already acceptable documentation on a non-
driver's license, a marriage certificate from the government of a
foreign country or from a bona fide religious institutions that issues
certificates of marriage in a foreign country.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Throughout this world, there are countries that have disparate views on
the performance of weddings as either a civil or a religious ceremony.
Some countries require a wedding to be performed as a civic ceremony so
that the government can "legalize" the wedding; other countries take the
opposite approach and leave marriage up to the religious institutions
that are within that Country. While many countries accept both. While
the State of New York views these marriages as legal for the purpose of
the relationship between spouses, the New York State DMV currently does
not accept a religious marriage certificate as a means to allow for a
name change on a New York Driver's License, or Non Driver ID. This
legislation seeks to ensure that both foreign civil and religious
marriage licenses are deemed acceptable in the views of the DMV when it
comes to a name change.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S. 7239/A. 9083 of 2020; Referred to Senate Transportation Committee

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day.

2021-S119 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    119
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 6, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  KAPLAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law,  in  relation  to  allowing
   certificates of marriage from foreign governments and religious insti-
   tutions  as  acceptable documentation to change a name on the driver's
   license or non-driver identification card
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Section  502 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by
 adding a new subdivision 1-a to read as follows:
   1-A. IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER DOCUMENTATION ACCEPTABLE TO THE  COMMIS-
 SIONER  FOR  THE  PURPOSES  OF  CHANGING  A  PERSON'S NAME ON A DRIVER'S
 LICENSE PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS  SECTION,  THE  COMMISSIONER
 SHALL  ACCEPT A CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF A FOREIGN
 COUNTRY OR FROM A BONA FIDE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION  THAT  ISSUES  CERTIF-
 ICATES OF MARRIAGE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY.
   §  2.  Section  502 vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 3-a to read as follows:
   3-A. IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER DOCUMENTATION ACCEPTABLE TO THE  COMMIS-
 SIONER  FOR  THE  PURPOSES  OF  CHANGING A PERSON'S NAME ON A NON-DRIVER
 IDENTIFICATION CARD PURSUANT TO  SUBDIVISIONS  TWO  AND  THREE  OF  THIS
 SECTION,  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL ACCEPT A CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE FROM
 THE GOVERNMENT OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY OR FROM A BONA FIDE RELIGIOUS INSTI-
 TUTION THAT ISSUES CERTIFICATES OF MARRIAGE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY.
   § 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth  day  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.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD01929-01-1

2021-S119A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A3704
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§502 & 490, V & T L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S7239, A9083
2023-2024: S4055
2025-2026: S5487

2021-S119A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Allows valid certificates of marriage from foreign governments and religious institutions as acceptable documentation to change a name on a driver's license, learner's permit, or identification card.

2021-S119A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S119A

SPONSOR: KAPLAN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to allowing
valid certificates of marriage from foreign governments and religious
institutions as acceptable documentation to change a name on the driv-
er's license or non-driver identification card

 
PURPOSE:

This legislation would allow for the acceptance of a valid marriage
certificate issued by a foreign government, or a bona fide religious
institution that issues certificates of marriage in a foreign country
acceptable forms when an individual seeks to change their name to their
married name on a driver's license, learner's permit, or non-driver ID
card.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends Section 502 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law by adding a
new subdivision 1-a to allow in addition to other acceptable documents
for changing a person's name on a driver's license, a valid certificate
of marriage from the government of a foreign country or from a bona fide
religious institution that issues certificates of marriage in a foreign
country.

Section 2 amends Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 502 by adding a new
subdivision 3-a to add to already acceptable documentation on a
learner's permit, a valid marriage certificate from the government of a
foreign country or from a bona fide religious institutions that issues
certificates of marriage in a foreign country.

Section 3 adds a new subdivision 2-a to Section 490 of the Vehicle and
Traffic Law to allow the commissioner to accept a valid certificate of
marriage from the government of a foreign country or from a bona fide
religious institution that issues certificates of marriage in a foreign
country.

Section 4 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Throughout this world, there are countries that have disparate views on
the performance of weddings as either a civil or a religious ceremony.
Some countries require a wedding to be performed as a civic ceremony so
that the government can "legalize" the wedding; other countries take the
opposite approach and leave marriage up to the religious institutions
that are within that Country. While many countries accept both. While
the State of New York views these marriages as legal for the purpose of
the relationship between spouses, the New York State DMV currently does
not accept a religious marriage certificate as a means to allow for a
name change on a New York Driver's License, Learner's Permit, or Non
Driver ID. This legislation seeks to ensure that both foreign civil and
religious marriage licenses can be considered acceptable in the views of
the DMV when it comes to a name change.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S.7239/A. 9083 of 2020; Referred to Senate Transportation Committee

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day.

2021-S119A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  119--A
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 6, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  KAPLAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation --  commit-
   tee  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recom-
   mitted to said committee

 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law,  in  relation  to  allowing
   valid  certificates of marriage from foreign governments and religious
   institutions as acceptable documentation to change a name on the driv-
   er's license or non-driver identification card
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Section  502 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by
 adding a new subdivision 1-a to read as follows:
   1-A. IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER DOCUMENTATION ACCEPTABLE TO THE  COMMIS-
 SIONER  FOR  THE  PURPOSES  OF  CHANGING  A  PERSON'S NAME ON A DRIVER'S
 LICENSE PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS  SECTION,  THE  COMMISSIONER
 MAY  ACCEPT  A  VALID  CERTIFICATE  OF MARRIAGE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF A
 FOREIGN COUNTRY OR FROM A BONA FIDE RELIGIOUS  INSTITUTION  THAT  ISSUES
 CERTIFICATES OF MARRIAGE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY.
   § 2. Section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a
 new subdivision 3-a to read as follows:
   3-A.  IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER DOCUMENTATION ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMMIS-
 SIONER FOR THE PURPOSES OF CHANGING  A  PERSON'S  NAME  ON  A  LEARNER'S
 PERMIT  PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISIONS  TWO  AND  THREE OF THIS SECTION, THE
 COMMISSIONER MAY ACCEPT A VALID CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE FROM THE GOVERN-
 MENT OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY OR FROM A BONA FIDE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION THAT
 ISSUES CERTIFICATES OF MARRIAGE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY.
   § 3. Section 490 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a
 new subdivision 2-a to read as follows:
   2-A. IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER DOCUMENTATION ACCEPTABLE TO THE  COMMIS-
 SIONER  FOR  PURPOSES  OF  CHANGING A PERSON'S NAME ON AN IDENTIFICATION
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01929-02-1

 S. 119--A                           2
 
 CARD, THE COMMISSIONER MAY ACCEPT A VALID CERTIFICATE OF  MARRIAGE  FROM
 THE GOVERNMENT OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY OR FROM A BONA FIDE RELIGIOUS INSTI-
 TUTION THAT ISSUES CERTIFICATES OF MARRIAGE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY.
   §  4.  This  act  shall take effect on the sixtieth day 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.

Comments

Open Legislation is a forum for New York State legislation. All comments are subject to review and community moderation is encouraged.

Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity, hate or toxic speech; or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Attempts to intimidate and silence contributors or deliberately deceive the public, including excessive or extraneous posting/posts, or coordinated activity, are prohibited and may result in the temporary or permanent banning of the user. Comment moderation is generally performed Monday through Friday. By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and verify you are over 13.

Create an account. An account allows you to sign petitions with a single click, officially support or oppose key legislation, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.