DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 698 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session Schamerhorn
Abstract: Authorizes the office of motor vehicles to suspend driving and motor vehicle registration
privileges of a person who pays taxes or fees to a public license tag agent with an insufficient
funds check or any form of payment that is subject to a chargeback.
Present law authorizes the department to suspend the driving and motor vehicle registration
privileges of any person who pays taxes or fees to the office of motor vehicles with a check that is
dishonored for insufficient funds, if the person fails to redeem the check within 30 days after the date
notice of suspension is mailed to the licensee by the department. Specifies that the period of
suspension begins 30 days after the date the notice of suspension is mailed to the licensee by the
department.
Present law provides that any license suspended will remain suspended until all pending assessments
against the person, including a reinstatement fee have been paid in cash. Specifies that no economic
hardship license will be issued when a person's driving and motor vehicle registration privileges have
been suspended.
Proposed law retains present law and adds a public license tag agent contracted with or acting on
behalf of the office of motor vehicles to present law provisions authorizing the office of motor
vehicles to suspend a person driver's license privileges if the person paid taxes or fees with an
insufficient funds check or any form of payment that is subject to a chargeback.
Proposed law authorizes that the office of motor vehicles to suspend the driving and motor vehicle
registration privileges of any person who pays taxes or fees to either the office of motor vehicles, or
to a public license tag agent contracted with the office of motor vehicles, with a credit or debit card
or any form of electronic payment that is the subject of a chargeback, if the person fails to make the
required payment within 30 days after the date notice of suspension is mailed to the licensee by the
department. Further specifies the period of suspension will begin 30 days after the date the notice
of suspension is mailed to the licensee by the department.
(Amends R.S. 32:414(N))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Transportation, Highways and
Public Works to the original bill: 1. Remove a provision that prohibited the issuance of an economic hardship license
when a person's driving and motor vehicle privileges are suspended pursuant to
to the law.
2. Authorize the department to suspend privileges for persons issuing payment to the office
of motor vehicles or a public license that is subject of a chargeback if the actual payment
is not made within 30 days.
3. Make technical changes.