HB 5539 Summary

• Authorizes the Secretary of State to issue electronic driver licenses in addition to physical plastic card licenses, with electronic licenses containing a QR code or similar technology for scanning and verification.

• Requires electronic licenses to contain the same information as physical licenses including name, date of birth, address, photograph, and expiration date, but excludes driving records and personal identifiers from encoded information.

• Establishes procedures for handling electronic licenses when a person refuses a chemical test or tests positive for unlawful alcohol content, including issuing a temporary permit and marking the electronic license as no longer in effect.

• Permits the Secretary of State to contract with vendors to implement electronic license technology and requires the electronic license to be made available by January 1, 2017.

• Makes technical amendments to provisions governing duplicate licenses and chemical test procedures related to impaired driving enforcement.