as introduced - 91st Legislature, 2020 1st Special Session (2019 - 2020) Posted on 06/19/2020 09:06am
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:
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(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
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(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of public safety.
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(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.
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During the peacetime public health
emergency period, the commissioner may issue an initial provisional noncompliant license,
within the meaning under Minnesota Statutes, section 171.01, subdivision 41a, to a qualified
applicant under subdivision 3, except that:
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(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;
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(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;
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(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; and
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(4) a parent or guardian, determined in the manner provided under Minnesota Statutes,
section 171.055, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (4), signs a statement that the parent
or guardian is aware of the delayed behind-the-wheel examination and the vehicle operation
requirements under this section.
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An applicant is qualified under subdivision 2 if the person:
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(1) is under age 18;
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(2) has completed a public, private, or commercial driver education program;
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(3) holds an instruction permit;
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(4) during the entire period of possession of an instruction permit, has not incurred a
conviction for (i) a violation of Minnesota Statutes, section 169A.20, 169A.33, 169A.35,
169A.50 to 169A.53, or 171.177, (ii) a crash-related moving violation, and (iii) a moving
violation that is not crash related; and
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(5) otherwise meets the requirements under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 171.
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(a) In addition to the requirements under Minnesota Statutes,
section 171.055, subdivision 2, a person who holds a license issued under this section may
not operate a motor vehicle:
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(1) while carrying a passenger, unless the passenger is a member of the license holder's
immediate family; or
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(2) during the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
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(b) The limitations under paragraph (a) do not apply if the license holder is accompanied
by the license holder's parent or guardian or a licensed driver age 21 or older.
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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).
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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 date
of implementation.
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