Senate Bill S6489

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S6489

SPONSOR: KENNEDY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to licensure
fees for seniors

 
PURPOSE:

This bill waives the fees for license renewal for any person who is
sixty-two years of age or older.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends paragraph c of subdivision 2 of section 503 of the
vehicle and traffic law to waive the fee of license renewal for those
who are sixty-two years of age or older.

Section 2 sets the effective date

 
              

JUSTIFICATION:

The senior population in New York State is larger and living longer than
ever before. Many seniors throughout the State live on fixed incomes,
and due to a lack of reliable and accessible transportation systems, a
driver's license is a necessity. From getting to doctor appointments to
the grocery store to senior centers, the aging population must be able
to access to the services they need.

In New York State, the cost of renewing a class D license is $64.50, and
that cost only increases in 12 of the downstate counties. In comparison,
the Social Security benefits seniors receive range from a few hundred
dollars and rarely go beyond $1,000. This means that renewing a driver's
license can cost some seniors, who are already living on pennies a day,
nearly 10% of their monthly income.

While this is a financial challenge for anyone, many seniors also need
expensive prescriptions and are burdened with a variety of costly
medical care in order to remain healthy and active members of the commu-
nity. Even the small act of alleviating the cost of license renewal fees
can help millions of seniors across New York State.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S.5194 of 2017-18

S.581 of 2019-20

S.3868 of 2021-22

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.