1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to drivers' licenses; exempting certain 
  1.3             applicants for a restricted license for farm work from 
  1.4             the requirement of having an instruction permit in 
  1.5             possession for at least six months before qualifying 
  1.6             for the license; authorizing instruction permits for 
  1.7             persons age 14 years for preparing to qualify for a 
  1.8             restricted license for farm work; amending Minnesota 
  1.9             Statutes 1996, sections 171.041; and 171.05, by adding 
  1.10            a subdivision. 
  1.11  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.12     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 171.041, is 
  1.13  amended to read: 
  1.14     171.041 [RESTRICTED LICENSES FOR FARM WORK.] 
  1.15     (a) Notwithstanding any provisions of section 171.04, 
  1.16  relating to the age of an applicant to the contrary, the 
  1.17  commissioner may issue a restricted farm work license to operate 
  1.18  a motor vehicle to a person who has attained the age of 15 years 
  1.19  but who is under the age of 16 years and who, except for age, is 
  1.20  qualified to hold a driver's license.  
  1.21     (b) Notwithstanding any other law, an applicant who reaches 
  1.22  the age of 15 years between February 1, 1997, and December 31, 
  1.23  1997, may be issued a license under this section without having 
  1.24  to comply with the six-month instruction permit possession 
  1.25  provisions of sections 171.04, subdivision 1, clause (2), and 
  1.26  171.05, subdivision 2a. 
  1.27     (c) The restricted license shall be issued solely for the 
  1.28  purpose of authorizing the person to whom the restricted license 
  2.1   is issued to assist the person's parents or guardians with farm 
  2.2   work.  A person holding such a restricted license may operate a 
  2.3   motor vehicle only during daylight hours and only within a 
  2.4   radius of 20 miles of the parent's or guardian's farmhouse; 
  2.5   however, in no case may a person holding such a restricted 
  2.6   license operate a motor vehicle in a city of the first class.  
  2.7   An applicant for a restricted license shall apply to the 
  2.8   commissioner for the license on forms prescribed by the 
  2.9   commissioner.  The application shall be accompanied by a written 
  2.10  verified statement by the applicant's parent or guardian setting 
  2.11  forth the necessity for the license.  
  2.12     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 171.05, is 
  2.13  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  2.14     Subd. 2b.  [INSTRUCTION PERMIT FOR FARM LICENSE.] The 
  2.15  department may issue an instruction permit to an applicant who 
  2.16  is 14 years of age for the purpose of preparing the applicant 
  2.17  for the restricted license for farm work under section 171.041.  
  2.18  A person who has an instruction permit under this subdivision 
  2.19  may operate a motor vehicle while accompanied by an adult 
  2.20  licensed driver during daylight hours within a radius of 20 
  2.21  miles of the farmhouse of the person's parent or guardian, but 
  2.22  not within a city of the first class.  A person applying for a 
  2.23  restricted license for farm work after April 1, 1998, must have 
  2.24  possessed an instruction permit issued under this subdivision 
  2.25  for at least six months before qualifying for the restricted 
  2.26  license. 
  2.27     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.28     Section 1 is effective retroactive to February 1, 1997.