Signed by Governor Dan Malloy

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants.

Highlights:

• Requires the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to issue a driver’s license to an applicant who does not have proof of his or her legal presence in the United States or does not have a Social Security number if the applicant meets all licensure requirements and submits the following documents (Sec. 1):
• Submission of “proof of residency” in the state;
• Submission of either 2 forms of “primary proof of identity” or 1 form of “primary proof of identity” and 1 form of “secondary proof of identity;” and
• Submission of an affidavit indicating the individual’s intent to apply for legal immigration status.

• Defines “proof of residency” as a piece of mail or electronic mail that includes an applicant’s name and address, indicates that the applicant resides in the state, is dated a minimum of 90 days before applying for a driver’s license, and comes from 2 sources including, but not limited to, the following sources (Sec. 1):
• A bill from a utility company or credit card company;
• A bank statement; and
• Any postmarked mail.

• Defines “primary proof of identity” as documentation indicating the identity of an applicant for a driver’s license in any of the following forms (Sec. 1):
• A valid foreign passport issued by the applicant’s country of citizenship that is unexpired or expired for less than 3 years before applying for a driver’s license;
• A valid, unexpired consular identification document issued by the applicant’s country of citizenship; or
• A consular report of the applicant’s birth in a foreign country.

• Defines “secondary proof of identity” as certain forms of documentation indicating the identity of an applicant for a driver’s license including, but not limited to, the following forms (Sec. 1):
• A valid, unexpired driver’s license, issued by another state or country;
• A valid foreign voter registration card; or
• A certified school transcript.

• Prohibits a driver’s license issued under the provisions of this bill from being used for federal identification purposes or for voter identification purposes (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Commissioner to place a restriction on a driver’s license issued under the provisions of this bill stating that it is for driving purposes only (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits the Commissioner from issuing a driver’s license to an individual who has been convicted of a felony in the state (Sec. 1).

• Establishes a working group to review methods to verify foreign documents submitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles by driver’s license applicants and submit a report on its findings and recommendations by February 1, 2014 (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants.

Highlights:

• Requires the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to issue a driver’s license to an applicant who does not have proof of his or her legal presence in the United States or does not have a Social Security number if the applicant meets all licensure requirements and submits the following documents (Sec. 1):
• Submission of “proof of residency” in the state;
• Submission of either 2 forms of “primary proof of identity” or 1 form of “primary proof of identity” and 1 form of “secondary proof of identity;” and
• Submission of an affidavit indicating the individual’s intent to apply for legal immigration status.

• Defines “proof of residency” as a piece of mail or electronic mail that includes an applicant’s name and address, indicates that the applicant resides in the state, is dated a minimum of 90 days before applying for a driver’s license, and comes from 2 sources including, but not limited to, the following sources (Sec. 1):
• A bill from a utility company or credit card company;
• A bank statement; and
• Any postmarked mail.

• Defines “primary proof of identity” as documentation indicating the identity of an applicant for a driver’s license in any of the following forms (Sec. 1):
• A valid foreign passport issued by the applicant’s country of citizenship that is unexpired or expired for less than 3 years before applying for a driver’s license;
• A valid, unexpired consular identification document issued by the applicant’s country of citizenship; or
• A consular report of the applicant’s birth in a foreign country.

• Defines “secondary proof of identity” as certain forms of documentation indicating the identity of an applicant for a driver’s license including, but not limited to, the following forms (Sec. 1):
• A valid, unexpired driver’s license, issued by another state or country;
• A valid foreign voter registration card; or
• A certified school transcript.

• Prohibits a driver’s license issued under the provisions of this bill from being used for federal identification purposes or for voter identification purposes (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Commissioner to place a restriction on a driver’s license issued under the provisions of this bill stating that it is for driving purposes only (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits the Commissioner from issuing a driver’s license to an individual who has been convicted of a felony in the state (Sec. 1).

• Establishes a working group to review methods to verify foreign documents submitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles by driver’s license applicants and submit a report on its findings and recommendations by February 1, 2014 (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text