HF 500

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 02/11/2013 02:22pm

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; drivers' licenses; increasing the filing fee charged by
driver's license agents; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 171.061,
subdivision 4.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 171.061, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Fee; equipment.

(a) The agent may charge and retain a filing fee of deleted text begin $5 deleted text end new text begin $8
new text end for each application. Except as provided in paragraph (c), the fee shall cover all expenses
involved in receiving, accepting, or forwarding to the department the applications and
fees required under sections 171.02, subdivision 3; 171.06, subdivisions 2 and 2a; and
171.07, subdivisions 3 and 3a.

(b) The statutory fees and the filing fees imposed under paragraph (a) may be paid
by credit card or debit card. The driver's license agent may collect a convenience fee on
the statutory fees and filing fees not greater than the cost of processing a credit card or
debit card transaction. The convenience fee must be used to pay the cost of processing
credit card and debit card transactions. The commissioner shall adopt rules to administer
this paragraph using the exempt procedures of section 14.386, except that section 14.386,
paragraph (b), does not apply.

(c) The department shall maintain the photo identification equipment for all
agents appointed as of January 1, 2000. Upon the retirement, resignation, death, or
discontinuance of an existing agent, and if a new agent is appointed in an existing office
pursuant to Minnesota Rules, chapter 7404, and notwithstanding the above or Minnesota
Rules, part 7404.0400, the department shall provide and maintain photo identification
equipment without additional cost to a newly appointed agent in that office if the office
was provided the equipment by the department before January 1, 2000. All photo
identification equipment must be compatible with standards established by the department.

(d) A filing fee retained by the agent employed by a county board must be paid into
the county treasury and credited to the general revenue fund of the county. An agent who
is not an employee of the county shall retain the filing fee in lieu of county employment
or salary and is considered an independent contractor for pension purposes, coverage
under the Minnesota State Retirement System, or membership in the Public Employees
Retirement Association.

(e) Before the end of the first working day following the final day of the reporting
period established by the department, the agent must forward to the department all
applications and fees collected during the reporting period except as provided in paragraph
(d).