| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to driver licensing; creating s. 322.073, |
| 3 | F.S.; providing for the Department of Highway Safety and |
| 4 | Motor Vehicles to issue driver licenses to certain foreign |
| 5 | nationals who frequently visit the state; providing for |
| 6 | expiration and renewal of the license; requiring |
| 7 | submission of certain information to receive the license; |
| 8 | authorizing the department to adopt rules; creating s. |
| 9 | 322.075, F.S.; providing for the department to issue |
| 10 | driving permits to certain foreign nationals who entered |
| 11 | the country under specified circumstances; providing |
| 12 | eligibility criteria; requiring the department to conduct |
| 13 | criminal background check and verify certain information; |
| 14 | providing requirements for the permits; providing for |
| 15 | period of validity; restricting validity to use in the |
| 16 | state; providing for renewal; prohibiting certain use and |
| 17 | providing penalties therefor; providing for fees; |
| 18 | authorizing the department to adopt rules; providing an |
| 19 | effective date. |
| 20 |
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| 21 | WHEREAS, the operation of motor vehicles is critical to |
| 22 | facilitating commerce and economic activity in this state, and |
| 23 | WHEREAS, the operation of motor vehicles contributes to |
| 24 | the ability of individuals to seek medical care, employment, |
| 25 | education, develop business enterprises, and provide for |
| 26 | themselves and their families, and |
| 27 | WHEREAS, the licensing and permitting of drivers |
| 28 | facilitates access to automobile insurance and promotes the |
| 29 | safe operation of motor vehicles for the benefit of all |
| 30 | Floridians, and |
| 31 | WHEREAS, there are many legal nonimmigrant visitors from |
| 32 | foreign countries traveling to this state who own property, |
| 33 | businesses, and automobiles in this state, and |
| 34 | WHEREAS, the issuance of a driver's license or permit |
| 35 | should be a process that emphasizes confirmation of the |
| 36 | identity of the applicant for the license or permit, and |
| 37 | WHEREAS, establishing a secure process under which legal |
| 38 | immigrants, legal nonimmigrants, and frequent foreign visitors |
| 39 | may obtain lawful driving privileges promotes commerce, safety |
| 40 | on the roadways, and personal and economic security for the |
| 41 | people of this state, NOW, THEREFORE, |
| 42 |
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| 43 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 44 |
|
| 45 | Section 1. Section 322.073, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 46 | to read: |
| 47 | 322.073 Licensing of foreign nationals who visit this |
| 48 | state.-- |
| 49 | (1) The department may, subject to the requirements of |
| 50 | this section, issue a driver license to an applicant who is a |
| 51 | foreign national and who legally visits this state on a frequent |
| 52 | basis but who has not immigrated to the United States. |
| 53 | (2) A license issued under this section is valid for 2 |
| 54 | years following the date on which it is issued or for the |
| 55 | duration of the nonimmigrant visa issued to the applicant by the |
| 56 | United States Government, whichever is longer, and may be |
| 57 | renewed thereafter under the same restrictions and conditions if |
| 58 | the applicant, at the time of renewal, satisfies the |
| 59 | requirements of this section. |
| 60 | (3) To receive or renew a driver license under this |
| 61 | section, a legal nonimmigrant visitor applicant must submit to |
| 62 | the department all of the following: |
| 63 | (a) A valid passport from the home country of the |
| 64 | applicant. |
| 65 | (b) A valid multiple-entry nonimmigrant visa issued to the |
| 66 | applicant by the United States Government. |
| 67 | (c) A valid and current I-94 U.S. Citizenship and |
| 68 | Immigration Services form issued to the applicant by the United |
| 69 | States Government. |
| 70 | (d) A valid driver license from the home country of the |
| 71 | applicant. |
| 72 | (4) The department may adopt rules under ss. 120.536(1) |
| 73 | and 120.54 necessary to administer this section. |
| 74 | Section 2. Section 322.075, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 75 | to read: |
| 76 | 322.075 Driving permits for persons entering the United |
| 77 | States under the Cuban Adjustment Act.-- |
| 78 | (1) The department may, subject to the requirements of |
| 79 | this section, issue a driving permit to a foreign national who |
| 80 | entered the United States under the Cuban Adjustment Act, as |
| 81 | amended, 8 U.S.C. s. 1255, and who may not be deported to his or |
| 82 | her country of citizenship due to the absence of diplomatic |
| 83 | relations between that country and the United States. |
| 84 | (2) To be eligible under this section, the applicant must: |
| 85 | (a) Be an applicant for a driver's license under s. 322.08 |
| 86 | who meets the applicable requirements of this chapter but who is |
| 87 | unable to satisfy the forms for proof of identity prescribed in |
| 88 | s. 322.08(2)(c). |
| 89 | (b) Present a form of identification that is acceptable to |
| 90 | the department, as prescribed by the department. |
| 91 | (c) Submit to fingerprint capture, which the department |
| 92 | must maintain on file and use in reviewing an application to |
| 93 | renew a driving permit under subsection (5). The department must |
| 94 | use the fingerprints to conduct a criminal background and |
| 95 | security check through the Department of Law Enforcement and the |
| 96 | Federal Bureau of Investigation. |
| 97 | (d) Affirm to the department that he or she: |
| 98 | 1. Has not been convicted of a violent felony, terrorism, |
| 99 | or money laundering, or conspiracy to commit a violent felony, |
| 100 | terrorism, or money laundering, by any state or federal court. |
| 101 | 2. Is not a habitual offender of laws relating to illegal |
| 102 | drugs. |
| 103 | 3. Has not been designated as a terrorist or the leader of |
| 104 | an illegal drug enterprise by the United States Department of |
| 105 | Justice. |
| 106 | 4. Will not travel to any country that is on a list of |
| 107 | terrorist countries maintained by the United States Government |
| 108 | for a period not to exceed 2 years or the duration of the |
| 109 | driving permit authorized in this section. |
| 110 | 5. Is not wanted for any offense or act listed in this |
| 111 | paragraph by any law enforcement authority in the United States. |
| 112 | (3) Before issuing a driving permit under this section, |
| 113 | the department must: |
| 114 | (a) Conduct a criminal background check through the |
| 115 | Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of |
| 116 | Investigation. |
| 117 | (b) Verify through the Department of Law Enforcement and |
| 118 | Federal Bureau of Investigation that the applicant is not a |
| 119 | security risk to the state or the United States. |
| 120 | (c) Verify that the applicant has not been designated as a |
| 121 | terrorist or as the leader of an illegal drug enterprise by the |
| 122 | United States Department of Justice. |
| 123 | (d) Verify the identity of the individual by using the |
| 124 | fingerprints submitted under subsection (2). |
| 125 | (4) A driving permit issued by the department under this |
| 126 | section: |
| 127 | (a) Must have a background that distinguishes the permit |
| 128 | from a driver's license issued under s. 322.08. |
| 129 | (b) Must be issued under the requirements of s. 322.142. |
| 130 | (c) Is valid for a period not to exceed 2 years following |
| 131 | the date the department issues the permit. |
| 132 | (d) Is valid for use in this state only and must include a |
| 133 | statement prominently placed that the driving permit is valid |
| 134 | for use in this state only. |
| 135 | (5) A person who is issued a driving permit under this |
| 136 | section may apply to the department to renew the driving permit |
| 137 | if the person otherwise qualifies for renewal under this |
| 138 | chapter. The department may renew a driving permit for a period |
| 139 | not to exceed 2 years if: |
| 140 | (a) The applicant for renewal of a driving permit submits |
| 141 | proof of identification that satisfies subsection (2). |
| 142 | (b) The department conducts a criminal background and |
| 143 | security check of the individual by using the fingerprints |
| 144 | submitted under subsection (2). |
| 145 | (c) The department verifies with the Department of Law |
| 146 | Enforcement and Federal Bureau of Investigation that the |
| 147 | applicant is not a security risk to the state or the United |
| 148 | States. |
| 149 | (d) The department verifies that the applicant has not |
| 150 | been designated as a terrorist or as the leader of an illegal |
| 151 | drug enterprise by the United States Department of Justice. |
| 152 | (6) The department may not issue or renew a driving permit |
| 153 | under this section if the applicant: |
| 154 | (a) Has been convicted of a violent felony, terrorism, or |
| 155 | money laundering or conspiracy to commit a violent felony, |
| 156 | terrorism, or money laundering by any state or federal court; |
| 157 | (b) Is a habitual offender of laws relating to illegal |
| 158 | drugs; |
| 159 | (c) Has been designated as a terrorist or the leader of an |
| 160 | illegal drug enterprise by the United States Department of |
| 161 | Justice; or |
| 162 | (d) Has traveled to any country that is on a list of |
| 163 | terrorist countries maintained by the United States Government. |
| 164 | (7) Foreign national applicants meeting the requirements |
| 165 | of this section must show proof satisfactory to the department. |
| 166 | The provisions of s. 322.212 apply to a driving permit issued |
| 167 | under this section, and the penalties prescribed in s. 322.212 |
| 168 | apply to a violation of that section which occurs with respect |
| 169 | to such a driving permit. |
| 170 | (8) A driving permit issued under this section is property |
| 171 | of the state. A person in possession of a driving permit must |
| 172 | provide it to a law enforcement officer upon request. A law |
| 173 | enforcement officer having a reasonable belief that a person |
| 174 | possesses or is using a driving permit in violation of this |
| 175 | section or any other law may seize the driving permit. A person |
| 176 | from whom a law enforcement officer seizes a driving permit |
| 177 | under this subsection does not have a cause of action against |
| 178 | the law enforcement officer for the seizure of the driving |
| 179 | permit. |
| 180 | (9) The department may cancel any driving permit issued |
| 181 | under this section upon determining that the foreign national is |
| 182 | no longer entitled to the issuance of the driving permit. |
| 183 | (10)(a) The department shall establish fees for the |
| 184 | initial issuance and the renewal of a driving permit under this |
| 185 | section. The fees must account for costs related to conducting |
| 186 | criminal background checks and verifying security risks related |
| 187 | to the applicant as required under this section. |
| 188 | (b) All fees collected under this section shall be |
| 189 | deposited in the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund. |
| 190 | (11) The department may adopt rules under s. 120.536(1) |
| 191 | and s. 120.54 necessary to administer this section. |
| 192 | Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2005. |