NY State Senate Bill 2023-S4329

Senate Bill S4329

Signed By Governor

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Authorizes the commissioner of motor vehicles to enter into reciprocity agreements with other states, countries, provinces or territories that issue driver licenses

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - Signed by Governor

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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Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Aug 13, 2023	signed chap.277
Aug 11, 2023	delivered to governor
Jun 10, 2023	returned to senate passed assembly ordered to third reading rules cal.810 substituted for a3935a
Jun 08, 2023	referred to transportation delivered to assembly passed senate ordered to third reading cal.1763 committee discharged and committed to rules
Jun 05, 2023	print number 4329a
Jun 05, 2023	amend (t) and recommit to transportation
Feb 07, 2023	referred to transportation

Votes

- Jun 8, 2023 - Floor Vote
  S4329
  
  42
  
  Aye
  
  20
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  1
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Floor Vote: Jun 8, 2023
      
      aye (42)
      
      Addabbo Jr.
      
      Ashby
      
      Bailey
      
      Breslin
      
      Brisport
      
      Brouk
      
      Chu
      
      Cleare
      
      Comrie
      
      Felder
      
      Fernandez
      
      Gianaris
      
      Gonzalez
      
      Gounardes
      
      Harckham
      
      Hinchey
      
      Hoylman-Sigal
      
      Jackson
      
      Kavanagh
      
      Kennedy
      
      Krueger
      
      Liu
      
      Mannion
      
      Martinez
      
      May
      
      Mayer
      
      Myrie
      
      Parker
      
      Persaud
      
      Ramos
      
      Rivera
      
      Ryan
      
      Salazar
      
      Sanders Jr.
      
      Scarcella-Spanton
      
      Sepúlveda
      
      Serrano
      
      Skoufis
      
      Stavisky
      
      Stewart-Cousins
      
      Thomas
      
      Webb
      
      nay (20)
      
      Borrello
      
      Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick
      
      Gallivan
      
      Griffo
      
      Helming
      
      Lanza
      
      Martins
      
      Mattera
      
      Murray
      
      O'Mara
      
      Oberacker
      
      Ortt
      
      Palumbo
      
      Rhoads
      
      Rolison
      
      Stec
      
      Tedisco
      
      Walczyk
      
      Weber
      
      Weik
      
      excused (1)
      
      Cooney
  Jun 8, 2023 - Rules Committee Vote
  S4329
  
  15
  
  Aye
  
  4
  
  Nay
  
  1
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  1
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Rules Committee Vote: Jun 8, 2023
      
      aye (15)
      
      Addabbo Jr.
      
      Bailey
      
      Breslin
      
      Comrie
      
      Fernandez
      
      Gianaris
      
      Griffo
      
      Kennedy
      
      Krueger
      
      Liu
      
      Mayer
      
      Parker
      
      Sepúlveda
      
      Stewart-Cousins
      
      Thomas
      
      nay (4)
      
      Helming
      
      Lanza
      
      Ortt
      
      Stec
      
      aye wr (1)
      
      Gallivan
      
      excused (1)
      
      O'Mara

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

co-Sponsors

2023-S4329 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A3935
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2017-2018: A11285
2019-2020: S2951, A3144
2021-2022: S6649, A4992

2023-S4329 - Summary

Authorizes the commissioner of motor vehicles to enter into reciprocity agreements with other states, countries, provinces or territories that issue driver licenses.

2023-S4329 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4329                 Revised 2/23/2023

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
the same as for any resident of the state of NY and/or the Republic of
China (Taiwan). 4.  Each side shall agree to verify that 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 Director General 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 commissioner of motor vehicles shall draft the agreement
and present such agreement to the Director General of the Taipei Econom-
ic Cultural Office in New York within 90 days of the date this shall
have become law.

Section 6: Effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:


Currently, there are 38 states and territories - AL, AZ, AR, CO, DE, FL,
GA, HI, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MN, MS, MT, NV, NJ, NM, OH, OK,
OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, TN, TX, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY- that have
entered into such agreements with Taiwan. By entering into a driver
license reciprocity agreement, New York State's Department of Transpor-
tation and the Republic of China (Taiwan), through the Ministry of
Transportation and Communications, 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 turn is a direct benefit to economic development
of New York State. The licensing and skill requirements necessary to
become licensed in each jurisdiction is comparable - ensuring that
Taiwanese license holders would meet the same rules and regulations and
high standards as New York driver license holders and vice versa. Thus,
guaranteeing the safety of our roadways.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S. 6649-A of 2022: Amended and Recommitted to Transportation;

S. 6649-A of 2021: Referred to Transportation;

S. 2951 of 2020: New Bill, Referred to Transportation

 
LOCAL FISCAL AND FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2023-S4329 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4329
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 7, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  SEPULVEDA,  KRUEGER,  SKOUFIS  --  read twice and
   ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on
   Transportation
 
 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.
   § 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.
                                                            LBD08246-01-3
 S. 4329                             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
 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.

co-Sponsors

2023-S4329A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A3935
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2017-2018: A11285
2019-2020: S2951, A3144
2021-2022: S6649, A4992

2023-S4329A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Authorizes the commissioner of motor vehicles to enter into reciprocity agreements with other states, countries, provinces or territories that issue driver licenses.

2023-S4329A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4329A

SPONSOR: SEPULVEDA
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act in relation to authorizing the commissioner of motor vehicles to
enter into reciprocity agreements with other states, countries, prov-
inces or territories that issue driver licenses

 
PURPOSE:

This bill would allow the commissioner of motor vehicles to enter into
driver license reciprocity agreements.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: This bill allows New York State to enter into drivers'
license reciprocity agreements with other states, countries, provinces,
or territories.

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

countries, provinces, or territories, as well as holders of valid driver
licenses lawfully residing in NYS from other states, countries, prov-
inces, or territories. Both parties will agree on the reciprocal
provision for issuance and skills. Both parties shall agree that a hold-
er of a valid, unexpired license of the state of New York residing in
the other states, countries, provinces, or territories, will be able to
exchange such 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
the same as for any resident of the state of NY and/or the other state,
country, province, or territory.

Section 4: This agreement shall be signed by both the commissioner of
motor vehicles of NYS and an official with legal authority of the
respective state, country, province, or territory. It 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 commissioner of motor vehicles shall report to the gover-
nor, the temporary President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
Assembly within one year of enactment and annually thereafter.

Section 6: Effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This legislation would allow great flexibility for New Yorkers working
abroad who want to obtain drivers licenses in the countries they are
working in as will business people from other countries residing in New
York. For example - Currently, there are 38 states and territories - AL,
AZ, AR, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MN, MS, MT, NV,
NJ, NM, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, TN, TX, VT, VI, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY-
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 Republic of China (Taiwan), through the Ministry
of Transportation and Communications, would agree to recognize and
exchange valid driver's licenses issued 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 turn is a direct benefit to economic
development of New York State. The licensing and skill requirements
necessary to become licensed in each jurisdiction is comparable - ensur-
ing that Taiwanese license holders would meet the same rules and regu-
lations and high standards as New York driver license holders and vice
versa. Thus, guaranteeing the safety of our roadways.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S. 6649- A of 2022: Amended and Recommitted to Transportation;

S. 6649- A of 2021: Referred to Transportation;

S. 2951 of 2020: New Bill, Referred to Transportation

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2023-S4329A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  4329--A
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 7, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  SEPULVEDA, KRUEGER, RIVERA, SKOUFIS -- read twice
   and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee
   on Transportation  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN  ACT in relation to authorizing the commissioner of motor vehicles to
   enter into reciprocity agreements with other states, countries,  prov-
   inces or territories that issue 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 is hereby authorized  to
 enter  into  agreements with other parties that issue driver licenses to
 provide reciprocity in issuing driver licenses between citizens from the
 state of New York residing in the respective state, country, province or
 territory and to the citizens from  such  state,  country,  province  or
 territory  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 the state of New York and in the respec-
 tive state, country, province or territory. The  commissioner  of  motor
 vehicles  may  only enter into such reciprocal agreements with a  state,
 country, province or territory that has a comparable licensing  process,
 including without limitation, knowledge and road tests, and may    enter
 into  reciprocal  agreements  providing  for  additional  education with
 respect to the operating laws, rules, and regulations of the  respective
 state, country, province or territory.
   § 2. For any such reciprocal agreement entered into, the parties shall
 agree  that  a holder of a valid driver license of the state of New York
 residing in such state, country, province or territory, shall be able to
 exchange such license for a driver license issued by such  state,  coun-
 try,  province or territory at the nominal conversion fee, without being
 required to pass the knowledge and road test. Correspondingly, a  holder
 of  a  valid  driver  license  from  another state, country, province or
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08246-02-3

 S. 4329--A                          2
 
 territory 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 their 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.
   § 3. The state of New York, through the commissioner  of  motor  vehi-
 cles,  and  the respective ministry or department of the state, country,
 province or territory, 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  pursuant  to section 7209 of the Intelligence Reform
 and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, Public Law 108-458,  real  IDs  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 respective state, country, province or territory shall
 apply.
   4. Each party shall agree to verify whether the  driver  still  has  a
 valid  driver  license  of  the  state in which he or she was originally
 licensed, provided that the commissioner of motor vehicles shall  ensure
 that  driver information for no other driver licensed in the state other
 than the driver applying for  the  reciprocal  license  is  shared  when
 conducting such verification and designing such verification system, and
 shall  ensure that any information necessary to be shared, if any, shall
 substantially comply with federal and state law for purposes of a recip-
 rocal license application. For purposes of this section, "driver  infor-
 mation"  shall  include,  but  not  be limited to, any portion or record
 retained by the commissioner of motor vehicles in relation to a non-com-
 mercial driver license or renewal application that  contains  the  photo
 image  or  identifies  the  social  security  number, address, telephone
 number, place of birth, age, country of  origin,  place  of  employment,
 school  or educational institution attended, source of income, status as
 a recipient of public benefits, customer identification  number  associ-
 ated  with  a public utilities account, and medical information or disa-
 bility information.
   § 4. The agreement shall be signed by both the commissioner  of  motor
 vehicles  of  the state of New York and an official with legal authority
 to enter into such agreement on behalf of the respective state, country,
 province or territory 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 report to the governor,
 the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of  the  assembly
 on  agreements  entered  into pursuant to section one of this act within
 one year of the date this act shall have become a law and annually ther-
 eafter.
   § 6. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S4329

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Luis R. Sepúlveda

Current Bill Status - Signed by Governor

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

Liz Krueger

Gustavo Rivera

James Skoufis

2023-S4329 - Details

2023-S4329 - Summary

2023-S4329 - Sponsor Memo

2023-S4329 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

Liz Krueger

Gustavo Rivera

James Skoufis

2023-S4329A (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S4329A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S4329A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S4329A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments