HB 1583 - AS INTRODUCED
2018 SESSION
18-2332
03/08
HOUSE BILL 1583
AN ACT relative to indicating citizenship on drivers' licenses and nondrivers' identification cards.
SPONSORS: Rep. Itse, Rock. 10; Rep. Hoell, Merr. 23; Rep. Bates, Rock. 7; Rep. True, Rock. 4; Rep. Spillane, Rock. 2
COMMITTEE: Transportation
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires that drivers’ licenses and nondrivers’ identification cards indicate whether or not the holder is a citizen of the United States of America.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
18-2332
03/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen
AN ACT relative to indicating citizenship on drivers' licenses and nondrivers' identification cards.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Legislative Finding. The legislature finds that protecting the integrity of the vote is as important as ensuring the availability of the vote. To that end, we find it necessary to insure that state issued identification for voting confirm whether or not the individual is a citizen of the United States of America, and therefore, if an inhabitant of the state of New Hampshire, qualified to vote in the state of New Hampshire.
2 Identification Cards; Citizenship. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 260:21, II to read as follows:
II. The department shall, before issuing a card to an applicant, require the applicant to furnish proof of his or her name, sex, age, citizenship, and address of residence. The department shall accept the following forms of proof unless there is evidence that the item is not genuine:
3 Identification Cards; Citizenship. Amend RSA 260:21, III to read as follows:
III. The identification card shall bear the name, address, identification number, date of birth, blood type (optional), veteran's status for the purposes of identification for receiving benefits and services under New Hampshire law (optional), picture, and signature of the applicant, either "citizen USA" or "noncitizen USA," and in the case of a card issued pursuant to RSA 260:21, I(c), said card shall bear the notation "Golden Granite State Discount Card.'' The identification card shall bear an approved security marking indicating that it was not issued in compliance with Public Law 109-13 and is therefore not acceptable for federal identification purposes.
4 Identification Cards; Citizenship. Amend RSA 260:21-a, II to read as follows:
II. The identification card shall bear the name, address, identification number, date of birth, veteran's status for the purposes of identification for receiving benefits and services under New Hampshire law (optional), organ donor status (optional), picture, and signature of the applicant, and either "citizen USA" or "noncitizen USA."
5 Identification Cards; Citizenship. Amend RSA 260:21-b, II to read as follows:
II. The identification card shall bear the name, address, identification number, date of birth, veteran's status for the purposes of identification for receiving benefits and services under New Hampshire law (optional), organ donor status (optional), picture, and signature of the applicant, and either "citizen USA" or "noncitizen USA."
6 New Section; Issuance of Drivers’ Licenses; Evidence of Citizenship. Amend RSA 263 by inserting after section 5-f the following new section:
263:5-g Evidence of Citizenship. Before the department issues any license to any person under this chapter, the department shall have examined evidence of the person’s citizenship. The department shall keep a record of the type of evidence on which it relied but shall not keep on file a copy of such evidence or any information contained therein other than the information required under RSA 260:21, II.
7 Drivers’ Licenses; Form of License. Amend RSA 263:40 to read as follows:
263:40 Form of License.
I. The commissioner shall, upon payment of the required fee, issue to every applicant a driver's license subject to such conditions as the commissioner may deem expedient and in such form as the commissioner may prescribe. Licenses issued to persons under the age of 21 shall be designed so that their horizontal and vertical axes are opposite the horizontal and vertical axes of licenses issued to other persons, and said licenses shall prominently display the date on which the licensee shall attain the age of 21 years. Consistent with RSA 263:14, the youth operator license shall expire on the 21st anniversary of the applicant's date of birth, at which time the applicant shall be issued a traditional license. The license shall bear thereon a distinguishing number assigned to the licensee, either "citizen USA" or "noncitizen USA," and an instant full-face color photograph, image, or likeness of the licensee. There shall also be provided a space wherein the licensee may indicate his or her honorable veteran's status for purposes of identification for receiving benefits and services under New Hampshire law if the licensee so desires. The license shall bear a special designation or symbol indicating honorable veteran's status for licensees who indicate such veteran status. The driver's license card shall bear an approved security marking indicating that it was not issued in compliance with Public Law 109-13 and is therefore not acceptable for federal identification purposes.
II. Drivers' licenses compliant with Public Law 109-13 issued pursuant to RSA 263:14-b shall bear the name, address, date of birth, veteran's status for the purposes of identification for receiving benefits and services under New Hampshire law (optional), organ donor status (optional), picture, and signature of the applicant, either "citizen USA" or "noncitizen USA." The driver's license card shall bear an approved security marking indicating that it was issued in compliance with Public Law 109-13 and is therefore acceptable for federal identification purposes.
III. Enhanced drivers' licenses issued pursuant to RSA 263:14-c shall bear the name, address, date of birth, veteran's status for the purposes of identification for receiving benefits and services under New Hampshire law (optional), organ donor status (optional), picture, and signature of the applicant, and either "citizen USA" or "noncitizen USA." The driver's license card shall bear an approved security marking indicating that it is an enhanced driver's license.
8 Commercial Driver License; Information Included. Amend RSA 263:91, I(i)-(j) to read as follows:
(i) The name of this state; [and]
(j) The expiration date; and
(k) Either "citizen USA" or "noncitizen USA."
9 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2019.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 23, 2018 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 27, 2018 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote | |
| March 6, 2018 | House | Floor Vote |
March 6, 2018: Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/06/2018 HJ 6 P. 57
: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate (Vote 17-2; CC)
March 6, 2018: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate for 03/06/2018 (Vote 17-2; CC) HC 9 P. 33
Feb. 27, 2018: Executive Session: 02/27/2018 LOB 203
Jan. 23, 2018: Public Hearing: 01/23/2018 01:00 PM LOB 203
Jan. 3, 2018: Introduced 01/03/2018 and referred to Transportation HJ 1 P. 16