1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; providing for issuance of certain drivers' licenses during 
1.3 	the peacetime public health emergency.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. PEACETIME EMERGENCY; NEW DRIVERS' LICENSES.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have 
1.7 	the meanings given.
1.8 	(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of public safety.
1.9 	(c) "Peacetime public health emergency period" means the duration of any peacetime 
1.10 	emergency declared by the governor in an executive order that relates to the infectious 
1.11 	disease known as COVID-19, but ending no later than January 31, 2021.
1.12 		Subd. 2.Instruction permit issuance. During the peacetime public health emergency 
1.13 	period, the commissioner may issue a noncompliant instruction permit, as provided in 
1.14 	Minnesota Statutes, section 171.019, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), to a qualified applicant, 
1.15 	except that:
1.16 	(1) notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 171.071, or Minnesota Rules, part 
1.17 	7410.1810, the applicant is not required to appear in person for a photograph if the 
1.18 	commissioner has a photograph of the applicant on record or the applicant submits a recent 
1.19 	photograph that meets the requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section 171.071, and 
1.20 	Minnesota Rules, part 7410.1810, subpart 1, provided that the commissioner must use the 
1.21 	most recently available or submitted photograph for the applicant's driver's license; and
2.1 	(2) notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 171.13, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), 
2.2 	clause (1), or Minnesota Rules, part 7410.2400, subpart 1, an examination of the applicant's 
2.3 	eyesight is not required.
2.4 		Subd. 3.New driver's license issuance. During the peacetime public health emergency 
2.5 	period, the commissioner may issue an initial noncompliant license, as defined in Minnesota 
2.6 	Statutes, section 171.01, subdivision 41a, to a qualified applicant who holds an instruction 
2.7 	permit, except that:
2.8 	(1) notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 171.071, or Minnesota Rules, part 
2.9 	7410.1810, the applicant is not required to appear in person for a photograph if the 
2.10 	commissioner has a photograph of the applicant on record, provided that the commissioner 
2.11 	must use the most recently available photograph for the applicant's driver's license;
2.12 	(2) notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 171.13, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), 
2.13 	clause (1), or Minnesota Rules, part 7410.2400, subpart 1, an examination of the applicant's 
2.14 	eyesight is not required if the commissioner has a record that the applicant has passed an 
2.15 	examination of the applicant's eyesight; and
2.16 	(3) notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 171.13, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), 
2.17 	clause (4), or Minnesota Rules, chapter 7410, the applicant is not required to undergo a 
2.18 	behind-the-wheel road examination at the time of application.
2.19 		Subd. 4.Driver's license renewals. For the first renewal of a license issued under this 
2.20 	section, the license holder must pass a behind-the-wheel road examination under Minnesota 
2.21 	Statutes, section 171.13, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (4).
2.22 		Subd. 5.Knowledge examinations. The commissioner must establish a process to 
2.23 	administer, during the peacetime public health emergency period, examinations of an 
2.24 	instruction permit applicant's knowledge of traffic laws, as required under Minnesota Statutes, 
2.25 	sections 171.05, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (4), and 171.13, subdivision 1, paragraph 
2.26 	(a).

2.27 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective four weeks following final enactment 
2.28 	or the date the changes required by this section are implemented, whichever is earlier. If 
2.29 	the changes required by this section are implemented earlier than four weeks after final 
2.30 	enactment, the commissioner of public safety must notify the revisor of statutes of the 
2.31 	implementation date.