Revision: Jan. 22, 2024, 11:44 a.m.
SB 583-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
01/18/2024 0108s
2024 SESSION
24-3110
11/08
SENATE BILL 583-FN
AN ACT relative to including active duty military status on drivers licenses.
SPONSORS: Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Ricciardi, Dist 9; Rep. Roy, Rock. 31; Rep. T. Dolan, Rock. 16; Rep. Lundgren, Rock. 16
COMMITTEE: Transportation
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ANALYSIS
This bill includes active duty military status on 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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
01/18/2024 0108s 24-3110
11/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
AN ACT relative to including active duty military status on drivers licenses.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 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 symboland 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 and an instant full-face 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 active duty or 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, gender indicated as "M" for "male," "F" for "female," or "X" for "other," 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. 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, gender indicated as "M" for "male," "F" for "female," or "X" for "other," 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. The driver's license card shall bear an approved security marking indicating that it is an enhanced driver's license.
IV. Active duty status is defined as current full-time service in the Armed Forces of the United States.
V. Upon discharge from active military duty:
(a) The privileges of this section remain in effect for a period of 180 days after discharge or release from the Armed Forces.
(b) The member may apply for veteran status after the 180 days and an honorable discharge.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.
24-3110
Amended 1/22/24
SB 583-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2024-0108s)
AN ACT relative to including active duty military status on drivers licenses.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures | $0 | $64,000+ | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | Restricted – Highway Fund Cost of Collections – Per the state constitution, costs associated with the collection/administration of highway fund revenue by the Department of Safety is deducted prior to funds being credited as unrestricted highway fund revenue. | |||||
Appropriations | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
• Does this bill provide sufficient funding to cover estimated expenditures? [X] No • Does this bill authorize new positions to implement this bill? [X] N/A | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill will allow applicants to request to have a symbol put on their license showing that they are active-duty military. The Department of Safety states implementing this change would require modifications to the Division of Motor Vehicles VISION system. This one-time cost is estimated to be $64,000 to its outside vendor (320 work hours @ $200 per hour). The Department notes there may also costs to make changes with its card production vendor.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Safety