1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; governing drivers' licenses and Minnesota identification 
1.3 	cards; providing for certain remote issuance and expiration extensions;amending 
1.4 	Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 171.06, by adding a subdivision; 171.13, 
1.5 	subdivision 1; 171.27.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 171.06, is amended by adding a subdivision 
1.8 	to read:
1.9 		Subd. 7.Remote application. (a) The commissioner must establish a process for a 
1.10 	person to apply remotely for a driver's license or Minnesota identification card, whether 
1.11 	through a website or other means, as provided in this subdivision.
1.12 	(b) The commissioner may issue or reinstate a canceled driver's license or Minnesota 
1.13 	identification card and may renew a driver's license or Minnesota identification card for a 
1.14 	person who does not apply in-person if:
1.15 	(1) the applicant submits documentation, as prescribed by the commissioner, that an 
1.16 	eligible family member is an employee of a federal department or agency who is assigned 
1.17 	to foreign service outside of the United States;
1.18 	(2) there is not a material change to the applicant's name, date of birth, signature, and 
1.19 	driver's license or identification number since the most recent driver's license or Minnesota 
1.20 	identification card issuance;
1.21 	(3) the application is not for a different type or class of driver's license or Minnesota 
1.22 	identification card, as identified in sections 171.019, subdivision 2, and 171.02, subdivision 
1.23 	2;
2.1 	(4) one of the following requirements is met:
2.2 	(i) the commissioner has a previous photograph of the applicant on file that was taken 
2.3 	within the last five years or in conjunction with the most recent issuance; or
2.4 	(ii) for a noncompliant license or identification card, the applicant submits a photograph 
2.5 	that meets the requirements of sections 171.07 and 171.071, Minnesota Rules, part 
2.6 	7410.1810, subpart 1, and any other technical requirements established by the commissioner, 
2.7 	which may include but are not limited to background color, lighting and visibility standards, 
2.8 	and electronic file size;
2.9 	(5) for a driver's license, the commissioner has a record that the applicant has undergone 
2.10 	an examination of the applicant's eyesight within the last two years, or the applicant submits 
2.11 	a vision examination certificate that:
2.12 	(i) has been completed within the last two years;
2.13 	(ii) is signed by a licensed physician or an optometrist, including one who holds a similar 
2.14 	license in a jurisdiction outside the United States; and
2.15 	(iii) is in a form as prescribed by the commissioner;
2.16 	(6) for a canceled driver's license or Minnesota identification card:
2.17 	(i) cancellation was within the past five years;
2.18 	(ii) cancellation was due to driver's license or identification card issuance by another 
2.19 	jurisdiction; and
2.20 	(iii) the application includes surrender or invalidation of a valid driver's license or 
2.21 	identification card issued by another jurisdiction; and
2.22 	(7) the most recent issuance, reinstatement, or renewal was not performed under this 
2.23 	subdivision.
2.24 	(c) A person who applies for a driver's license or Minnesota identification card under 
2.25 	this subdivision is not required to:
2.26 	(1) take a knowledge examination;
2.27 	(2) take a road examination to demonstrate ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable 
2.28 	control in the operation of a motor vehicle; and
2.29 	(3) appear in-person for an updated photograph upon return to Minnesota.
2.30 	(d) For purposes of this subdivision, "eligible family member" means the applicant for 
2.31 	a driver's license or Minnesota identification card under this subdivision, the applicant's 
3.1 	spouse or domestic partner, and the applicant's parent or guardian if the applicant is a 
3.2 	dependent under age 26.

3.3 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 171.13, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
3.4 		Subdivision 1.Examination subjects and locations; provisions for color blindness, 
3.5 	disabled veterans. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the commissioner shall 
3.6 	examine each applicant for a driver's license by such agency as the commissioner directs. 
3.7 	This examination must include:
3.8 	(1) a test of the applicant's eyesight, provided that this requirement is met by submission 
3.9 	of a vision examination certificate under section 171.06, subdivision 7;
3.10 	(2) a test of the applicant's ability to read and understand highway signs regulating, 
3.11 	warning, and directing traffic;
3.12 	(3) a test of the applicant's knowledge of (i) traffic laws; (ii) the effects of alcohol and 
3.13 	drugs on a driver's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely and legally, and of the legal 
3.14 	penalties and financial consequences resulting from violations of laws prohibiting the 
3.15 	operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; (iii) railroad 
3.16 	grade crossing safety; (iv) slow-moving vehicle safety; (v) laws relating to pupil 
3.17 	transportation safety, including the significance of school bus lights, signals, stop arm, and 
3.18 	passing a school bus; (vi) traffic laws related to bicycles; and (vii) the circumstances and 
3.19 	dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning;
3.20 	(4) an actual demonstration of ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the 
3.21 	operation of a motor vehicle; and
3.22 	(5) other physical and mental examinations as the commissioner finds necessary to 
3.23 	determine the applicant's fitness to operate a motor vehicle safely upon the highways.
3.24 	(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), no driver's license may be denied an applicant on 
3.25 	the exclusive grounds that the applicant's eyesight is deficient in color perception. War 
3.26 	veterans operating motor vehicles especially equipped for disabled persons, if otherwise 
3.27 	entitled to a license, must be granted such license.
3.28 	(c) The commissioner shall make provision for giving the examinations under this 
3.29 	subdivision either in the county where the applicant resides or at a place adjacent thereto 
3.30 	reasonably convenient to the applicant.
3.31 	(d) The commissioner shall ensure that an applicant is able to obtain an appointment for 
3.32 	an examination to demonstrate ability under paragraph (a), clause (4), within 14 days of the 
4.1 	applicant's request if, under the applicable statutes and rules of the commissioner, the 
4.2 	applicant is eligible to take the examination.

4.3 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 171.27, is amended to read:
4.4 	171.27 ~~EXPIRATION OF~~ LICENSE EXPIRATION AND RENEWAL; ~~MILITARY~~ 
4.5 	~~EXCEPTION~~ EXCEPTIONS.
4.6 		Subdivision 1.Expiration. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the expiration 
4.7 	date for each driver's license is the birthday of the driver in the fourth year following the 
4.8 	date of issuance of the license. The birthday of the driver shall be as indicated on the 
4.9 	application for a driver's license. A license may be renewed on or before expiration or within 
4.10 	one year after expiration upon application, payment of the required fee, and passing the 
4.11 	examination required of all drivers for renewal. Driving privileges shall be extended or 
4.12 	renewed on or preceding the expiration date of an existing driver's license unless the 
4.13 	commissioner believes that the licensee is no longer qualified as a driver.
4.14 	(b) The expiration date for each under-21 license shall be the 21st birthday of the licensee. 
4.15 	Upon the licensee attaining the age of 21 and upon the application, payment of the required 
4.16 	fee, and passing the examination required of all drivers for renewal, a driver's license shall 
4.17 	be issued unless the commissioner determines that the licensee is no longer qualified as a 
4.18 	driver.
4.19 	(c) The expiration date for each provisional license is two years after the date of 
4.20 	application for the provisional license.
4.21 	(d) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) to (c), the expiration date for a license issued to a 
4.22 	person with temporary lawful status is the last day of the person's legal stay in the United 
4.23 	States, or one year after issuance if the last day of the person's legal stay is not identified.
4.24 		Subd. 2.Extension of expiration. ~~(e) Any~~ A valid Minnesota driver's license issued to:
4.25 	(1) a person then or subsequently serving outside Minnesota in active military service, 
4.26 	as defined in section 190.05, subdivision 5, in any branch or unit of the armed forces of the 
4.27 	United States~~,~~;
4.28 	(2) a person who is an employee of a federal department or agency and is assigned to 
4.29 	foreign service outside of the United States; or
4.30 	(3) the ~~person's~~ spouse, ~~shall continue~~ domestic partner, or dependent under age 26 of 
4.31 	a person in clause (1) or (2);
5.1 	continues in full force and effect without requirement for renewal until the date one year 
5.2 	following the service member's separation or discharge from active military service or the 
5.3 	conclusion of assignment to foreign service outside the United States, and until the license 
5.4 	holder's birthday in the fourth full year following the person's most recent license renewal 
5.5 	or, in the case of a provisional license, until the person's birthday in the third full year 
5.6 	following the renewal.