HF 4671

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 05/12/2020 01:03pm

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; providing for issuance of certain drivers' licenses during
the peacetime public health emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin PEACETIME EMERGENCY; NEW DRIVERS' LICENSES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of public safety.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Peacetime public health emergency period" means the duration of any peacetime
emergency declared by the governor in an executive order that relates to the infectious
disease known as COVID-19, but ending no later than January 31, 2021.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Instruction permit issuance. new text end

new text begin During the peacetime public health emergency
period, the commissioner may issue a noncompliant instruction permit, as provided in
Minnesota Statutes, section 171.019, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), to a qualified applicant,
except that:
new text end

new text begin (1) notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 171.071, or Minnesota Rules, part
7410.1810, the applicant is not required to appear in person for a photograph if the
commissioner has a photograph of the applicant on record or the applicant submits a recent
photograph that meets the requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section 171.071, and
Minnesota Rules, part 7410.1810, subpart 1, provided that the commissioner must use the
most recently available or submitted photograph for the applicant's driver's license; and
new text end

new text begin (2) notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 171.13, subdivision 1, paragraph (a),
clause (1), or Minnesota Rules, part 7410.2400, subpart 1, an examination of the applicant's
eyesight is not required.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin New driver's license issuance. new text end

new text begin During the peacetime public health emergency
period, the commissioner may issue an initial noncompliant license, as defined in Minnesota
Statutes, section 171.01, subdivision 41a, to a qualified applicant who holds an instruction
permit, except that:
new text end

new text begin (1) notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 171.071, or Minnesota Rules, part
7410.1810, the applicant is not required to appear in person for a photograph if the
commissioner has a photograph of the applicant on record, provided that the commissioner
must use the most recently available photograph for the applicant's driver's license;
new text end

new text begin (2) notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 171.13, subdivision 1, paragraph (a),
clause (1), or Minnesota Rules, part 7410.2400, subpart 1, an examination of the applicant's
eyesight is not required if the commissioner has a record that the applicant has passed an
examination of the applicant's eyesight; and
new text end

new text begin (3) notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 171.13, subdivision 1, paragraph (a),
clause (4), or Minnesota Rules, chapter 7410, the applicant is not required to undergo a
behind-the-wheel road examination at the time of application.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Driver's license renewals. new text end

new text begin For the first renewal of a license issued under this
section, the license holder must pass a behind-the-wheel road examination under Minnesota
Statutes, section 171.13, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (4).
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Knowledge examinations. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must establish a process to
administer, during the peacetime public health emergency period, examinations of an
instruction permit applicant's knowledge of traffic laws, as required under Minnesota Statutes,
sections 171.05, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (4), and 171.13, subdivision 1, paragraph
(a).
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective four weeks following final enactment
or the date the changes required by this section are implemented, whichever is earlier. If
the changes required by this section are implemented earlier than four weeks after final
enactment, the commissioner of public safety must notify the revisor of statutes of the
implementation date.
new text end