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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Hamilton

DATE TYPED 2/04/05

HB 303

SHORT TITLE Extend Military Driver’s License Expirations

SB

ANALYST Rosen

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

NFI

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Taxation and Revenue Department (TRD)

Department of Military Affairs (DMA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 303 extends the expiration date of valid driver’s licenses for military members and

spouses stationed away from New Mexico until the 31

st

day after the person’s discharge or reas-

signment to the state.

Significant Issues

According to DMA, Section 20-1-8(A)(3) should be similarly amended to include “spouses” as

covered individuals in the event of expiration of driver’s license.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

TRD indicates there will have to be some system changes to track the extended expiration date

and possibly provide the cardholder with a small sheet quoting the New Mexico statute outlining

the extension requirements.

House Bill 303 -- Page 2

MVD will not have to handle the workload of providing new licenses to military members sta-

tioned out of state.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

According to DMA, Section 66-5-4(F) NMSA 1978 will be repealed with passage of this bill.

According to DMA, Section 20-1-8(A)(3) NMSA 1978 addresses the same matter, excluding

spousal coverage, for the New Mexico National Guard.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

TRD indicates provisions of this bill should only apply to non-commercial driver’s licenses as

licensing of commercial drivers is covered by federal regulations.

DMA indicates this bill is broader in terms of coverage than current statute (Section 20-1-

8(A)(3)) restricted to National Guard members only.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL.

According to DMA, returning military service members would still be protected under Section

66-5-4(F) NMSA 1978 if their driver’s licenses expired while serving in the military.

JR/sb