HOUSE FILE 2180

BY  MURPHY

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for advance notification of the need to renew a driver’s license.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.196, subsection 1, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   1.
  a.  Except as otherwise provided, a driver’s license, other than an instruction permit, chauffeur’s instruction permit, or commercial driver’s instruction permit issued under section 321.180, expires five years from the licensee’s birthday anniversary occurring in the year of issuance if the licensee is between the ages of seventeen years eleven months and seventy years on the date of issuance of the license. If the licensee is under the age of seventeen years eleven months or age seventy or over, the license is effective for a period of two years from the licensee’s birthday anniversary occurring in the year of issuance. A licensee whose license is restricted due to vision or other physical deficiencies may be required to renew the license every two years. If a licensee is a foreign national who is temporarily present in this state, the license shall be issued only for the length of time the foreign national is authorized to be present as verified by the department, not to exceed two years.
   b.  On or about the first day of each month, the department shall notify each licensee whose driver’s license is due to expire in the following month of the need to renew the license and the period for renewal. The notice shall be mailed to the most recent address of record provided by the licensee pursuant to section 321.182, or the notice may be sent electronically by prior arrangement with the licensee. Failure to receive a renewal notice shall not affect the expiration of a license or the requirements for renewal of an expired license.
EXPLANATION
   This bill requires the department of transportation to send a notice on or about the first day of each month to a person whose driver’s license will expire in the following month. The notice shall be sent to the most recent address of record for the licensee, or may be sent electronically by prior arrangement with the licensee. The expiration of a license or the requirements for renewal are not affected by the failure of a licensee to receive the notice.