S 7349: Requires applicants for the renewal of a driver's license to prove they have acceptable vision to operate a motor vehicle.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 7349 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE April 10, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring applicants for the renewal of a driver's license to complete a vision test The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 6 of section 502 of the vehi- 2 cle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 37 of the laws of 2019, is 3 amended to read as follows: 4 (a) A license issued pursuant to subdivision five of this section 5 shall be valid until the expiration date contained thereon, unless such 6 license is suspended, revoked or cancelled. Such license may be renewed 7 by submission of an application for renewal, the fee prescribed by law, 8 proofs of prior licensing, fitness and acceptable vision prescribed by 9 the commissioner, the applicant's social security number or, in lieu 10 thereof, with respect to an application for a non-commercial driver's 11 license or learner's permit which does not meet federal standards for 12 identification, an affidavit signed by such applicant that they have not 13 been issued a social security number, and if required by the commission- 14 er, a photo image of the applicant in such numbers and form as the 15 commissioner shall prescribe. Such proof of acceptable vision shall 16 require the applicant to pass a vision test administered by the commis- 17 sioner or such commissioner's agent, or to submit a certification, 18 signed by a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, optome- 19 trist or optician, attesting that the applicant has adequate vision to 20 operate a motor vehicle as determined by the commissioner. In addition, 21 an applicant for renewal of a license containing a hazardous material 22 endorsement shall pass an examination to retain such endorsement. The 23 commissioner shall, with respect to the renewal of a hazardous materials 24 endorsement, comply with the requirements imposed upon states by EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD05581-01-5 
 S. 7349 2 1 sections 383.141 and 1572.13 of title 49 of the code of federal regu- 2 lations. A renewal of such license shall be issued by the commissioner 3 upon approval of such application, except that no such license shall be 4 issued if its issuance would be inconsistent with the provisions of 5 section five hundred sixteen of this title, and except that the commis- 6 sioner may refuse to renew such license if the applicant is the holder 7 of a currently valid or renewable license to drive issued by another 8 state or foreign country unless the applicant surrenders such license. 9 § 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall 10 have become a law.