This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h7063a.ITA
DATE: 2/16/2022
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: HB 7063 PCB PIE 22-05 Identification Cards
SPONSOR(S): Public Integrity & Elections Committee, Perez
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 144
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
Orig. Comm.: Public Integrity & Elections
Committee
18 Y, 0 N Friant Rubottom
1) Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations
Subcommittee
12 Y, 0 N Hicks Davis
2) Commerce Committee
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
Current law authorizes the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) to issue or renew a
Florida identification card, at no charge, to a person who is homeless, a juvenile offender in custody or under
the supervision of the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and receiving certain services, and to an inmate
upon expiration of his or her sentence.
The bill adds two additional groups to the statutory exemption lists for the issuance of a free original
identification cards. These include registered voters experiencing financial hardship and drivers who are 80
years of age or older and cannot pass the required vision test to renew their driver license. The bill also directs
DHSMV to renew or replace identification cards at no charge for registered voters experiencing financial
hardship.
The bill may have a significant negative fiscal impact on local and state government revenues as a result of
adding these two new statutory fee exemptions relating to the issuance of identification cards. However, it is
unknown how many individuals would qualify for the exemptions. See the Fiscal Analysis Section.
The bill has an effective date of July 1, 2022.
STORAGE NAME: h7063a.ITA PAGE: 2
DATE: 2/16/2022
FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Current Situation
Chapter 322, Florida Statutes, governs the issuance of Florida driver licenses and identification cards.
Florida identification cards provide the same reliable photographic identification as Florida driver
licenses. The identification cards are interchangeable with driver licenses for commercial air travel,
banking, and voter registration in Florida.
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) issues identification cards at no
charge to certain categories of Floridians. The exemption is limited to applicants who present
satisfactory evidence of homelessness, as well as specified juvenile offenders and inmates.
1
In 2020, Florida ranked second in the nation for the percentage of state population aged 65 or older. At
the time of the last census, it was determined that over 21 percent of Florida citizens are in this
category.
2
Driver license renewals are required every eight years, except for drivers who are 80 years and older
are required to renew every six years. Mandatory vision tests are required for drivers 80 years or older
at each renewal.
Proposed Changes
The bill adds the following groups of people to whom DHSMV must issue a Florida identification card at
no charge:
Registered Florida voters experiencing financial hardship.
Persons 80 years of age or older whose driving privilege has been denied due to failure to pass
a vision test.
The bill authorizes DHSMV to issue a replacement or renewal identification card to registered voters
experiencing financial hardship and prohibits the department from requiring evidence of a financial
hardship.
Finally, the bill would require the DHSMV to issue identification cards to drivers who are 80 years of
age or older and have been denied driving privileges due to failure to pass a vision test. This removes
the identification burden imposed on such Floridians when they lose their driving privilege due to a
vision disability.
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1: Amends s. 322.051, F.S., to include additional exemptions.
Section 2: Amends s. 322.18, F.S. to require the issuance of a Florida identification card to drivers
at least 80 years of age who can no longer pass a vision test.
Section 3: Amends s. 322.21, F.S., to make conforming changes.
Section 4: Provides an effective date of July 1, 2022.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
1
s. 322.051(9)
2
https://www.prb.org/resources/which-us-states-are-the-oldest/ (last accessed: Feb. 1, 2022). STORAGE NAME: h7063a.ITA PAGE: 3
DATE: 2/16/2022
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
The bill creates two new groups that qualify for the issuance of an identification card at no charge.
It is unknown how many individuals would claim a hardship and seek an identification card at no
charge. For Fiscal Year 2022-2023, DHSMV projects a likely significant decrease in revenues as a
result of these two new statutory fee exemptions: $4.3 million impact to the General Revenue Fund
and $381,794 impact to the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund. However, these impacts are
indeterminate, as this bill has not been reviewed in an official revenue estimating conference to
determine a consensus cost estimate and it is indeterminate how many would qualify for a fee
exemption.
2. Expenditures:
None.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
The creation of the two new groups that can receive an identification card at no charge is projected
to reduce revenues collected by tax collectors by $315,919. This projection is based upon the
department’s calculations as the bill has not been reviewed in an official revenue estimating
conference to determine a consensus cost estimate. It is unknown how many individuals would
claim a hardship and seek an identification card at no charge.
2. Expenditures:
None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
Individuals with financial hardships and those at least 80 years of age will benefit from being able to
receive an identification card at no charge to them.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
None.
III. COMMENTS
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:
1. Applicability of Municipality/County Mandates Provision:
Not applicable.
2. Other:
None
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY:
The bill creates no new rule-making authority.
STORAGE NAME: h7063a.ITA PAGE: 4
DATE: 2/16/2022
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS:
None.
IV. AMENDMENTS/COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES