What's happening
This bill waives the fee for a replacement driver's license or ID card if the sole purpose is to add organ donor status.
Why it matters
Encourages more people to register as organ donors. by removing the financial barrier associated with updating their driver’s license or ID card solely to add donor status, potentially increasing organ donation rates.
Targets a specific, positive action. the waiver only applies when the replacement is requested for the sole purpose of organ donor designation, ensuring the benefit is used as intended and not for general renewals or other changes.
Aligns with public health and social good goals. by making it easier for individuals to take an important step that can save lives, signaling state support for organ donation initiatives.
Reduces inequity for lower-income individuals. who might otherwise hesitate to update their status due to cost, ensuring that willingness to be an organ donor isn’t limited by ability to pay.
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Who cares
Driver's license holders
Those requesting a replacement license solely to add an organ donor designation could receive a fee waiver.
Identification card holders
Those requesting a replacement identification card solely to add an organ donor designation could receive a fee waiver.
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
The bill would give the commissioner discretion to waive replacement fees for applicants seeking only to add an organ donor designation.
Headline styles
No-Fee Organ Donor License
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
No Fee for Donor ID
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Kimberly Jean-Pierre
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2496
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 25, 2019
Introduced by Sen. JORDAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to providing for the waiver of the fee for a replacement driver's license or identification card if the replacement driver's license or identification card is requested solely for the purpose of designating that the applicant is an organ donor
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 503 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 548 of the laws of 1986, is amended to read as follows:
3. Waiver of fee. The commissioner may waive the payment of fees required by subdivision two of this section if the applicant:
(i) is an inmate in an institution under the jurisdiction of a state department or agency, or
(ii) is a victim of crime and the driver's license or learner's permit applied for is a replacement for one that was lost or destroyed as a result of the crime, or
(iii) is applying for the replacement driver's license solely for the purpose of designating on the applicant's driver's license that the applicant is an organ donor.
§ 2. Subdivision 3 of section 491 of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by section 1 of part H of chapter 58 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
3. Waiver of fee. The commissioner may waive the payment of fees required by subdivision two of this section if the applicant:
(i) is a victim of a crime and the identification card applied for is a replacement for one that was lost or destroyed as a result of the crime, or
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08860-01-9
S. 2496 2
(ii) is applying for the replacement identification card solely for the purpose of designating on the applicant's identification card that the applicant is an organ donor.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to providing for the waiver of the fee for a replacement driv- er's license or identification card if the replacement driver's license or identification card is requested solely for the purpose of designat- ing that the applicant is an organ donor
Purpose
The bill waives the fee for a replacement license or identification card if the replacement license or identification card is requested solely for the purpose of designating that applicant as an organ donor.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends subdivision 3 of section 503 of the Vehicle and Traffic law to add the provision that the Commissioner may waive payment of fees for a replacement driver's license if the applicant is applying for the replacement license solely for designating on the license that the applicant is an organ donor.
Section 2 amends subdivision 3 of section 491 of the Vehicle and Traffic law to allow the Commissioner to waive the payment of fees for an iden- tification card if the applicant is applying for the replacement card solely for designating on the card that the applicant is an organ donor.
Section 3 sets an immediate effective date.
Justification
This bill encourages more New Yorkers to become organ donors by removing bureaucratic obstacles in order to help save lives. It allows an indi- vidual to be immediately identified as a donor if that person chooses to become a donor prior to his or her license or identification card need- ing to be renewed. Only 27 percent of potential New Yorkers are enrolled in the New York State Donate Life Registry - the lowest rate in the country while thousands continue to wait for organ transplants in the state. By removing the fee for obtaining a replacement license or iden- tification card that designates the holder as an organ donor, this step should encourage more New Yorkers to give the gift of life.
Legislative history
S.8333 of 2018
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.