HB1700: relative to the licensure of nonresident aliens temporarily residing in New Hampshire.

HB 1700-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2020 SESSION

20-3100

11/04

HOUSE BILL 1700-FN

AN ACT relative to the licensure of nonresident aliens temporarily residing in New Hampshire.

SPONSORS: Rep. Sykes, Graf. 13; Sen. Watters, Dist 4

COMMITTEE: Transportation

ANALYSIS

This bill permits nonresident aliens living in New Hampshire on a temporary basis to obtain a driver's license upon completion of an application for asylum status to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

This bill is a recommendation of the commission to study the licensing of drivers from foreign countries, established pursuant to 2019, 123:1.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

20-3100

11/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty

AN ACT relative to the licensure of nonresident aliens temporarily residing in New Hampshire.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Drivers' Licenses; License for Aliens Temporarily Residing in New Hampshire. Amend RSA 263:39-a, I(b)-(c) to read as follows:

(b) For the purposes of engaging in lawful employment, occupational, or business activity, and is engaged in such activity; [or]

(c) Who is the spouse or child of an alien licensed under this section[.]; or

(d) Who has filed a complete application for an asylum status through United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Written acknowledgment of receipt from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services shall be provided with the license application. A driver's license issued pursuant to this subparagraph shall be valid for 180 days.

2 Drivers' Licenses; License for Aliens Temporarily Residing in New Hampshire. Amend RSA 263:39-a, III to read as follows:

III. Except as provided in subparagraph I(d), the term of the license shall be no longer than 5 years from the date of issuance, and the director may set a lesser term in accordance with the length of the person's residence in New Hampshire.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBAO

20-3100

Revised 2/3/20

HB 1700-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to the licensure of nonresident aliens temporarily residing in New Hampshire.

FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

FY 2023

Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue

$0

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Expenditures

$0

Under $10,000

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Funding Source:

[ ] General [ ] Education [ X ] Highway [ X ] Other - Restricted - Cost of Collection/Administration*

*Pursuant to Part II, article 6-a of the New Hampshire constitution, any costs associated with the collection and administration of Highway Funds by the Department of Safety shall be deducted by the Department before such funds are credited to the Highway Fund as unrestricted revenue.

LOCAL:

Revenue

$0

$0

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Expenditures

$0

$0

$0

$0

METHODOLOGY:

This bill allows for the issuance of a driver’s license to applicants who have completed the application process for asylum. The Department of Safety expects any system costs to implement this bill to occur in FY 2021 and be less than $10,000. It is not known how many additional driver’s licenses may be issued as a result of this bill, therefore its impact on state revenue in FY 2021 and each year thereafter is indeterminable. Pursuant to RSA 235:23 (“Apportionment A”), 12 percent of previous year motor vehicle fees collected are distributed to municipalities. Therefore, this bill will also increase state expenditures and local revenue, by an indeterminable amount beginning in FY 2022.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Safety