Signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

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

Highlights:

• Specifies that the commissioner and or his employees or agents cannot disclose identification information nor records to any immigration law agency except in the case of a lawful court order, judicial warrant, or subpoena (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the primary identification proof necessary for a non-commercial driver’s license or learner’s permit to include, but not be limited to, a foreign, unexpired (Sec. 3):

• Passport from the individual’s country of citizenship;

• Consular identification document from the individual’s country of citizenship; or

• Driver’s license with a photo image of the individual, or that has been expired for less than 2 years from its expiration date.

• Authorizes that an affidavit stating the individual lacks a social security number, can be used in place of a social security number for an application regarding a non-commercial driver’s license or learner’s permit that does not meet federal identification standards (Sec. 3).

• Requires the commissioner to allocate space on the application for a driver’s license, learner’s permit, non-driver identification card, or renewal thereof, for the option to register for military service (Sec. 5).

• Specifies that the bill will go into effect 180 days after becoming law (Sect. 8). 

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

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

Highlights:

• Specifies that the commissioner and or his employees or agents cannot disclose identification information nor records to any immigration law agency except in the case of a lawful court order, judicial warrant, or subpoena (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the primary identification proof necessary for a non-commercial driver’s license or learner’s permit to include, but not be limited to, a foreign, unexpired (Sec. 3):

• Passport from the individual’s country of citizenship;

• Consular identification document from the individual’s country of citizenship; or

• Driver’s license with a photo image of the individual, or that has been expired for less than 2 years from its expiration date.

• Authorizes that an affidavit stating the individual lacks a social security number, can be used in place of a social security number for an application regarding a non-commercial driver’s license or learner’s permit that does not meet federal identification standards (Sec. 3).

• Requires the commissioner to allocate space on the application for a driver’s license, learner’s permit, non-driver identification card, or renewal thereof, for the option to register for military service (Sec. 5).

• Specifies that the bill will go into effect 180 days after becoming law (Sect. 8). 

Full Bill Text