NY State Senate Bill 2021-S6649A

Senate Bill S6649A

2021-2022 Legislative Session

Requires the commissioner of motor vehicles to enter into an agreement with the Republic of China (Taiwan) for reciprocity of driver licenses

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Apr 05, 2022	print number 6649a
Apr 05, 2022	amend and recommit to transportation
Jan 05, 2022	referred to transportation
May 11, 2021	referred to transportation

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

co-Sponsors

2021-S6649 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A4992
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2017-2018: A11285
2019-2020: S2951, A3144
2023-2024: S4329, A3935

2021-S6649 - Summary

Requires the commissioner of motor vehicles to enter into an agreement with the Republic of China (Taiwan) for reciprocity of driver's licenses.

2021-S6649 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S6649

SPONSOR: SEPULVEDA
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act in relation to requiring the commissioner of motor vehicles to
enter into an agreement with the Republic of China (Taiwan) for reci-
procity of driver licenses

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill would require the commissioner of motor vehicles to enter into
a driver license reciprocity agreement with the Republic of China
(Taiwan).

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: This bill requires New York State and the Republic of China
(Taiwan) to enter into a drivers' license reciprocity agreement.

Section 2: The commissioner of motor vehicles and the Republic of China
(Taiwan) through the Ministry of Transportation and Communications

represented by the Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural
Representative Office in the United States shall enter into an agreement
for reciprocity in issuing driver licenses to citizens from NYS residing
in Taiwan and to the Taiwanese citizens residing in NYS. Both parties
will agree on the reciprocal provision for issuance and skills. Both
parties shall agree that a holder of a valid, unexpired license residing
of the state of New York residing in the Republic of China (Taiwan),
will be able to exchange such license for a Taiwanese driver license at
a nominal conversion fee, without being require to pass the theoretical
and practical test and vice versa. If the license is expired, all tests
will be required.

Section 3: Both parties shall agree on: 1. Each party shall provide
sample of driver licenses issued at time of the agreement and definition
of all classes of driver licenses, notations and restrictions. 2. A
practical driving test and/or medical documentation attesting to phys-
ical or mental capabilities shall only be required in situations where
the driving examiner has cause to believe that the person concerned is
physical or mentally not qualified to operate a motor vehicle 3. This
agreement only applies to holders of unrestricted driver licenses aged
18 or older and shall not apply to applications for driver licenses for
the operation of a commercial motor vehicle or motorcycle 4. The stand-
ards, rules and regulations shall be the same as for any resident of the
state of NY and/or the Republic of China (Taiwan) 5. The new driver
license shall be issued after processing the application for the driver
license and the original shall be returned to the applicant once the new
one is issued. 6. When technically possible, each side shall agree to
verify if the driver license is still valid in the state it was issued.

Section 4: This agreement shall be signed by both the commissioner of
motor vehicles of NYS and the Representative of the Taipei Economic and
Cultural Representative office in the United States and may be canceled
or revoked in writing by either party at any time and for any reason
with three months' notice provided that notification is sent to the
address provided by the parties in agreement. Section 5:  The commis-
sioner of motor vehicles shall draft the agreement and present such
agreement to the Representatives of the Taipei Economic Cultural Repre-
sentatives office in the United States within 90 days of the date this
act shall have become law.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Currently, there are 16 states - MA, MD, DE, ID, WA, OR, SC, AL, AR, OK,
TX, MS, FL, PR (Puerto Rico), AZ and PA - that have entered into such
agreements with Taiwan. By entering into a driver license reciprocity
agreement, New York State's Department of Transportation and the Repub-
lic of China (Taiwan), through the Ministry of Transportation and Commu-
nications, would agree to recognize and exchange valid driver's licenses
issue by the other's jurisdiction.  The benefit for New York State for
Taiwanese businessmen, researchers, students and so on to get a New York
State license would be the increase of mobility in the State which in
turns is a direct benefit to the economic development of New York State.
The licensing and skill requirements necessary to become licensed in
each jurisdiction are comparable - ensuring that Taiwanese license hold-
ers would meet the same rules and regulations and high standards as New
York driver license holders and vice versa. Thus, guaranteeing the safe-
ty of our roadways.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-20: S2951

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2021-S6649 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6649
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 11, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sens. SEPULVEDA, KRUEGER -- read twice and ordered print-
   ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Transporta-
   tion
 
 AN  ACT  in  relation to requiring the commissioner of motor vehicles to
   enter into an agreement with the Republic of China (Taiwan) for  reci-
   procity of driver licenses

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The commissioner of motor  vehicles  shall  enter  into  an
 agreement  with  the  Republic of China (Taiwan) through the Ministry of
 Transportation and Communications represented by the Director General of
 the Taipei Economic and Cultural office in New York for  reciprocity  in
 issuing  driver licenses to citizens from the state of New York residing
 in the Republic of China (Taiwan) and to the Taiwanese citizens residing
 in the state of New  York.  The  parties  shall  agree  that  reciprocal
 provisions  for issuance and skills to acquire a driver license shall be
 applicable in New York and in the Republic of China (Taiwan).
   § 2. The parties shall agree that a holder of a valid  driver  license
 of  the  state  of  New York residing in the Republic of China (Taiwan),
 shall be able to exchange such license for a Taiwanese driver license at
 the nominal conversion fee, without being required to pass the knowledge
 and road test. Correspondingly, a holder of  a  valid  Taiwanese  driver
 license  lawfully  residing  in the state of New York, who is not exempt
 from licensing requirements under the vehicle and traffic law, shall  be
 able  to  exchange a Taiwanese license for a license in the state of New
 York at the nominal conversion fee, without being required to  pass  the
 knowledge and road test.
   §  3.  The  state of New York, through the commissioner of motor vehi-
 cles, and the Republic of China (Taiwan), through the Ministry of Trans-
 portation and Communications, shall agree on the following:

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07899-02-1

 S. 6649                             2
 
   1. Each party to  this  agreement  shall  provide  samples  of  driver
 licenses  (or  copies  thereof) issued at the time of this agreement and
 thereafter, as well as a definition of all classes of  driver  licenses,
 notations and restrictions;
   2.  This  agreement shall only apply to holders of unrestricted driver
 licenses aged 18 or older and shall not apply to applications for driver
 licenses for the operation of a commercial motor vehicle or motorcycle.
   3. For the decision on the issuance of  a  driver  license,  the  same
 standards, rules and regulations as for any resident of the state of New
 York and/or the Republic of China (Taiwan) shall apply.
   4.  Each  side  shall  agree  to verify whether the driver still has a
 valid driver license of the state in which  he  or  she  was  originally
 licensed.
   §  4.  The agreement shall be signed by both the commissioner of motor
 vehicles of the state of New York and the Director General of the Taipei
 Economic and Cultural office in New York and may be cancelled or revoked
 in writing by either party at any time and for  any  reason  with  three
 months  notice  provided  that notification shall be sent to the address
 provided by the parties in the agreement.
   § 5. The commissioner of motor vehicles shall draft the agreement  and
 present  such  agreement  to the Director General of the Taipei Economic
 and Cultural office in New York within ninety days of the date this  act
 shall have become a law.
   § 6. This act shall take effect immediately.

co-Sponsors

2021-S6649A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A4992
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2017-2018: A11285
2019-2020: S2951, A3144
2023-2024: S4329, A3935

2021-S6649A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires the commissioner of motor vehicles to enter into an agreement with the Republic of China (Taiwan) for reciprocity of driver's licenses.

2021-S6649A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S6649A

SPONSOR: SEPULVEDA
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act in relation to requiring the commissioner of motor vehicles to
enter into an agreement with the Republic of China (Taiwan) for reci-
procity of driver licenses

 
PURPOSE:

This bill would require the commissioner of motor vehicles to enter into
a driver license reciprocity agreement with the Republic of China
(Taiwan).

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: This bill requires New York State and the Republic of China
(Taiwan) to enter into a drivers' license reciprocity agreement.

Section 2: The parties will enter into an agreement for reciprocity in
issuing driver licenses to citizens from NYS residing in Taiwan and to

holders of valid Taiwanese driver licenses lawfully residing in NYS.
Both parties will agree on the reciprocal provision for issuance and
skills. Both parties shall agree that a holder of a valid, unexpired
license residing of the state of New York residing in the Republic of
China (Taiwan), will be able to exchange such license for a Taiwanese
driver license at a normal conversion fee, without being required to
pass the theoretical and practical test and vice versa.  If the license
is expired, all tests will be required.

Section 3: Both parties shall agree on: 1. Each party shall provide
sample of driver licenses issued at time of the agreement and definition
of all classes of driver licenses, notations and restrictions. 2. This
agreement only applies to holders of unrestricted driver licenses aged
18 or older and shall not apply to applications for enhanced licenses,
real ID's or driver licenses for the operation of a commercial motor
vehicle or motorcycle 3. The standards, rules and regulations shall be

 
LOCAL FISCAL AND FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2021-S6649A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  6649--A
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 11, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sens. SEPULVEDA, KRUEGER -- read twice and ordered print-
   ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Transporta-
   tion  --  recommitted to the Committee on Transportation in accordance
   with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,
   ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

 AN  ACT  in  relation to requiring the commissioner of motor vehicles to
   enter into an agreement with the Republic of China (Taiwan) for  reci-
   procity of driver licenses
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The commissioner of motor  vehicles  shall  enter  into  an
 agreement  with  the  Republic of China (Taiwan) through the Ministry of
 Transportation and Communications represented by the Director General of
 the Taipei Economic and Cultural office in New York for  reciprocity  in
 issuing  driver licenses to citizens from the state of New York residing
 in the Republic of China (Taiwan) and to the Taiwanese citizens residing
 in the state of New  York.  The  parties  shall  agree  that  reciprocal
 provisions  for issuance and skills to acquire a driver license shall be
 applicable in New York and in the Republic of China (Taiwan).
   § 2. The parties shall agree that a holder of a valid  driver  license
 of  the  state  of  New York residing in the Republic of China (Taiwan),
 shall be able to exchange such license for a Taiwanese driver license at
 the nominal conversion fee, without being required to pass the knowledge
 and road test. Correspondingly, a holder of  a  valid  Taiwanese  driver
 license  lawfully  residing  in the state of New York, who is not exempt
 from licensing requirements under the vehicle and traffic law, shall  be
 able to exchange a Taiwanese license for a standard license in the state
 of  New  York  at  the nominal conversion fee, without being required to
 pass the knowledge and road test.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07899-03-2
 S. 6649--A                          2

   § 3. The state of New York, through the commissioner  of  motor  vehi-
 cles, and the Republic of China (Taiwan), through the Ministry of Trans-
 portation and Communications, shall agree on the following:
   1.  Each  party  to  this  agreement  shall  provide samples of driver
 licenses (or copies thereof) issued at the time of  this  agreement  and
 thereafter,  as  well as a definition of all classes of driver licenses,
 notations and restrictions;
   2. This agreement shall only apply to holders of  unrestricted  driver
 licenses  aged  18  or  older  and  shall  not apply to applications for
 enhanced licenses, real ID's or driver licenses for the operation  of  a
 commercial motor vehicle or motorcycle.
   3.  For  the  decision  on  the issuance of a driver license, the same
 standards, rules and regulations as for any resident of the state of New
 York and/or the Republic of China (Taiwan) shall apply.
   4. Each side shall agree to verify whether  the  driver  still  has  a
 valid  driver  license  of  the  state in which he or she was originally
 licensed.
   § 4. The agreement shall be signed by both the commissioner  of  motor
 vehicles of the state of New York and the Director General of the Taipei
 Economic and Cultural office in New York and may be cancelled or revoked
 in  writing  by  either  party at any time and for any reason with three
 months notice provided that notification shall be sent  to  the  address
 provided by the parties in the agreement.
   §  5. The commissioner of motor vehicles shall draft the agreement and
 present such agreement to the Director General of  the  Taipei  Economic
 and  Cultural office in New York within ninety days of the date this act
 shall have become a law.
   § 6. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S6649A

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Sponsored By

Luis R. Sepúlveda

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

Liz Krueger

2021-S6649 - Details

2021-S6649 - Summary

2021-S6649 - Sponsor Memo

2021-S6649 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

Liz Krueger

James Skoufis

2021-S6649A (ACTIVE) - Details

2021-S6649A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S6649A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S6649A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments