Amendment
Bill No. 1681
Amendment No. 771911
CHAMBER ACTION
Senate House
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1Representative Rivera offered the following:
2
3     Amendment to Senate Amendment (400706) (with title
4amendment)
5     On page 2, line 11,
6Insert:
7     Section 2.  Section 322.073, Florida Statutes, is created
8to read:
9     322.073  Licensing of foreign nationals who visit this
10state.--
11     (1)  The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
12may, subject to the requirements of this section, issue a driver
13license to an applicant who is a foreign national and who
14legally visits this state on a frequent basis for business or
15pleasure but who has not immigrated to the United States.
16     (2)  A license issued under this section is valid for 2
17years following the date on which it is issued or, if a
18nonimmigrant visa is required for entry into the United States
19by a driver license applicant, a license issued under this
20section is valid for the duration of the nonimmigrant visa
21issued to the applicant by the United States Government, up to a
22maximum of 6 years. If the nonimmigrant visa driver license
23applicant is holding a nonimmigrant visa with less than 6 years'
24validity remaining on the nonimmigrant visa, then a license
25issued under this section is valid for the duration remaining on
26the nonimmigrant visa issued to the applicant by the United
27States Government and may be renewed thereafter under the same
28restriction and conditions as the initial issuance if the
29applicant, at the time of renewal, satisfies the requirements of
30this section.
31     (3)  When an applicant for a driver license is from a visa-
32waiver country that has been identified as such by the
33Department of Homeland Security, the applicant shall, upon
34meeting all eligibility requirements, be issued a license or an
35identification card, or both, for a period of up to 6 years.
36Such a license or identification card may be renewed thereafter
37under the same restrictions and conditions as those applying to
38the initial issuance if the applicant, at the time of renewal,
39satisfies the requirements of this section.
40     (4)  To receive or renew a driver license under this
41section, a legal nonimmigrant visitor applicant must submit to
42the department all of the following:
43     (a)  A valid passport from the home country of the
44applicant.
45     (b)  For an applicant entering from a country that is not
46identified by the United States Office of Citizenship and
47Immigration Services as a visa-waiver country, a valid
48nonimmigrant visa issued to the applicant by the United States
49Government.
50     (c)  A valid and current I-94 form issued by the United
51States Office of Citizenship and Immigration Services to the
52applicant.
53     (d)  A valid driver license from the home country of the
54applicant.
55     (5)  Each such applicant must provide, in addition to the
56items specified in paragraphs (4)(a)-(d), evidence satisfactory
57to the department which shows:
58     (a)  Proof of ownership of or a leasehold interest in a
59motor vehicle; or
60     (b)1.  The necessity for the applicant to operate a motor
61vehicle; and
62     2.  Proof that, for a period of at least 6 months during
63the previous 5 years, the applicant has had:
64     a.  An established presence in this state; or
65     b.  Ownership of or a lease on a residential property in
66this state.
67     (6)  A driver license issued under this section is property
68of the state. A person in possession of a driver license must
69provide it to a law enforcement officer upon request. A law
70enforcement officer having a reasonable belief that a person
71possesses or is using a driver license in violation of this
72section or any other law may seize the driver license. A person
73from whom a law enforcement officer seizes a driver license
74under this section does not have a cause of action against the
75law enforcement officer for the seizure of the driver license.
76The department may cancel a driver license issued under this
77section upon determining that the foreign national is no longer
78entitled to the issuance of the driver license.
79     (7)  The department shall establish fees for the initial
80issuance and renewal of a driver license under this section.
81     Section 3.  Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (1) of
82section 322.14, Florida Statutes, to read:
83     322.14  Licenses issued to drivers.--
84     (1)
85     (c)  In addition to the requirements of paragraph (a), each
86driver's license issued to a foreign national must clearly
87indicate that the license is valid for driving purposes only by
88exhibiting in bold font and red letters: "FOR DRIVING PURPOSES
89ONLY."
90
91================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T =================
92     On page 57, line 1,
93remove:  all of said line
94
95and insert:
96Trade, and Economic Development; creating s. 322.073,
97F.S.; providing for the Department of Highway Safety and
98Motor Vehicles to issue driver licenses to certain foreign
99nationals who frequently visit the state; providing
100application criteria and procedures; providing for seizure
101of the license for violations; authorizing the Department
102of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to establish fees for
103the license; amending s. 322.14, F.S.; providing content
104criteria for driver licenses issued to foreign nationals;
105amending s.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.