Bill Text - HB1118 (2024)

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


Revision: Nov. 28, 2023, 11:37 a.m.

HB 1118  - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

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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ANALYSIS

 

This bill allows the director of motor vehicles to require nonresident aliens to submit various certifications for drivers license issuance.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

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 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.

[(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.]

III.  The term of the license shall be no longer than 5 years from the date of issuance, and the director [may] shall 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  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.