HB1118 (2024) Detail

Relative to the issuance of drivers' licenses for aliens temporarily residing in New Hampshire.


HB 1118 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

 

7Mar2024... 0637h

2024 SESSION

24-2525

11/10

 

HOUSE BILL 1118

 

AN ACT relative to the issuance of drivers' licenses for aliens temporarily residing in New Hampshire.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. S. Smith, Sull. 3

 

COMMITTEE: Transportation

 

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 

This bill further delineates requirements regarding issuance of nonresident alien drivers' licenses.

 

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

7Mar2024... 0637h 24-2525

11/10

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four

 

AN ACT relative to the issuance of drivers' licenses for aliens temporarily residing in New Hampshire.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Drivers' Licenses; Nonresident Aliens.  Amend RSA 263:39-a to read as follows:

263:39-a License for Aliens Temporarily Residing in New Hampshire.

I. Notwithstanding RSA 263:40-a, the director may issue a New Hampshire driver's license to a nonresident alien who is living in New Hampshire on a temporary basis:

(a) For the purposes of attending a public or private educational institution which has a regular faculty, curriculum, and organized body of pupils or students in attendance and is enrolled in such education institution;

(b) For the purposes of engaging in lawful employment, occupational, or business activity, and is engaged in such activity; or

(c) Who is the spouse or child of an alien licensed under this section.

II. The director [may] shall require [any of] the following:

(a) Certification from the foreign government regarding the person's driving record and licensing status, or proof of previous vehicle operation in the foreign country or proof of completion of an approved driver education course acceptable to the director, or written or other testing;

(b)  Submission of social security number, or, if the person does not qualify for such a number, the submission of certification to that effect as is acceptable to the commissioner[.];

[(c)  Written or other testing.

(d)](c)  Proof of compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraph I[.]; and

[(e)](d)  Proof of identification as may be acceptable to the director.

[(f) Proof of previous vehicle operation in the foreign country or proof of completion of an approved driver education course acceptable to the director.]

II-a.  A driver's license issued to a nonresident alien under this section shall not be considered valid identification of identity or residence for state voter registration or any other purpose related to local, state, or federal voting.

III.  The term of the license shall be no longer than 5 years from the date of issuance, and the director may set a lesser term in accordance with the length of the person's residence in New Hampshire.

IV.  Nothing in this chapter shall preclude the director from denying a license if the director determines that licensure of the person may be contrary to the public safety. Once licensed, the individual shall be subject to the same provisions of the law as all other licensees.  When the person no longer meets the conditions specified in paragraph I, the person shall forthwith return the license to the director and the license shall become invalid.

2  New Section; Driver's License Issuance to Nonresident Aliens:  Asylees and Refugees.  Amend RSA 263 by inserting after section 263:39-b the following new section:

263:39-c  Driver's License Issuance to Nonresident Alien Asylees and Refugees.  Notwithstanding RSA 263:39-a, the commissioner shall not issue a driver's license to a person granted refugee or asylee status by United States Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) until that person's application for adjustment of status to be a lawful permanent resident of the United States has been granted, regardless of any prior employment authorization.

3  New Paragraph; Form of License; Nonresident Aliens.  Amend RSA 263:40 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:

IV.  Nonresident alien drivers' licenses issued pursuant to RSA 263:39-a shall bear the name, address, date of birth, gender indicated as "M" for "male," "F" for "female," or "X" for "other," organ donor status (optional), picture, and signature of the applicant.  The driver's license card shall bear a marking indicating that it is a nonresident alien driver's license.

4  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Amendments

Date Amendment
Feb. 16, 2024 2024-0637h

Links


Date Body Type
Jan. 16, 2024 House Hearing
Jan. 30, 2024 House Exec Session
Feb. 13, 2024 House Exec Session
Jan. 16, 2024 House Hearing
Jan. 30, 2024 House Exec Session
Feb. 13, 2024 House Exec Session
Feb. 13, 2024 House Floor Vote
May 7, 2024 Senate Hearing
May 22, 2024 Senate Floor Vote

Bill Text Revisions

HB1118 Revision: 41162 Date: March 7, 2024, 6:05 p.m.
HB1118 Revision: 40924 Date: Feb. 16, 2024, 3:21 p.m.
HB1118 Revision: 39586 Date: Nov. 28, 2023, 11:37 a.m.
HB1118 Revision: 44605 Date: Oct. 6, 2023, 12:16 p.m.

Docket


May 23, 2024: Refer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 05/23/2024; SJ 15


May 22, 2024: Special Order to the end of the calendar on 05/23/2024, Without Objection, MA; 05/22/2024; SJ 14


May 15, 2024: Committee Report: Referred to Interim Study, 05/22/2024, Vote 5-0; SC 20


April 30, 2024: Hearing: 05/07/2024, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 18


March 13, 2024: Introduced 03/07/2024 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7


March 7, 2024: Reconsider HB1118 (Rep. Sweeney): MF DV 167-178 03/07/2024 HJ 7 P. 107


March 7, 2024: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2024-0637h: MA RC 179-166 03/07/2024 HJ 7 P. 103


March 7, 2024: Amendment # 2024-0637h: AA RC 180-167 03/07/2024 HJ 7 P. 100


Feb. 20, 2024: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate


Feb. 20, 2024: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2024-0637h 02/13/2024 (Vote 10-9; RC) HC 9 P. 31


Feb. 7, 2024: ==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 02/13/2024 10:00 am LOB 203


Feb. 7, 2024: ==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 02/13/2024 10:00 am LOB 203


Jan. 25, 2024: ==RECESSED== Executive Session: 01/30/2024 02:00 pm LOB 203


Jan. 25, 2024: ==RECESSED== Executive Session: 01/30/2024 02:00 pm LOB 203


Feb. 20, 2024: Public Hearing: 01/16/2024 01:20 pm LOB 203


Jan. 11, 2024: Public Hearing: 01/16/2024 01:20 pm LOB 203 HC 2


Nov. 28, 2023: Introduced 01/03/2024 and referred to Transportation