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 944 Original 2024 Regular Session McMakin
Abstract: Changes driver's license renewals to every five years and requires a driving test be
conducted every four years by the office of motor vehicles.
Present law specifies every applicant must pass a written knowledge and skills test for a motor
vehicle representative of the type of motor vehicle he operates or expects to operate, or provide
evidence on a form approved by the department that he has successfully passed the written
knowledge test and a driving or skills test administered by an authorized third party. Further
specifies that in addition to the specialized knowledge and skills tests, each examination include:
a test of the applicant's eyesight; his ability to understand highway signs regulating, warning, and
directing traffic; his knowledge of railroad and highway grade crossing safety; his knowledge of
sharing the road with motorcycles and tractor/trailer trucks; his knowledge of the economic effects
of littering; his knowledge of distracted driving issues; his knowledge of trailer safety; his knowledge
of accessible parking and access aisles; his knowledge of appropriate driver conduct when stopped
by a law enforcement officer; and his knowledge of all relevant traffic regulations.
Proposed law modifies present law by adding a requirement that a driver must successfully pass the
written knowledge test and a driving or skills test administered by the office of motor vehicles every
four years in which a new written knowledge test must be provided.
Present law specifies a Class "D" driver's license expires on the anniversary of the birthday of the
applicant which is nearest to a period of six years subsequent to the issuing of the license, unless
suspended, revoked, or canceled prior to that time.
Proposed law modifies the expiration date in present law from six years to five years.
Present law authorizes the department to issue a license for a period of less than six years in
circumstances of medical limitation, limitation on lawful presence, or other special restrictions.
Proposed law modifies present law by changing the license period from less than six years to less
than five years.
Present law specifies that a Class "E" driver's license expires on the anniversary of the birthday of
the applicant which is nearest to a period of six years subsequent to the issuing of the license, unless
suspended, revoked, or canceled.
Proposed law modifies the expiration date in present law from six years to five years subsequent to the issuing of the license, unless suspended, revoked, or canceled.
Present law specifies that a Class "C" commercial driver's license not carrying an endorsement
permitting the transportation of material found to be hazardous for purposes of the Federal
Hazardous Material Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) or under state law or regulation will
expire on the anniversary of the birthday of the applicant which is nearest to a date of six years
subsequent to the issuing of the license, unless revoked, canceled, or suspended prior to that time.
Proposed law modifies the expiration date in present law from six years to five years for a Class "C"
commercial driver's license not carrying an endorsement permitting the transportation of material
found to be hazardous to expire on the anniversary of the birthday of the applicant which is nearest
to a date of six years subsequent to the issuing of the license, unless revoked, canceled, or suspended
prior to that time.
Present law specifies that a Class "C" commercial driver's license carrying an endorsement
permitting the transportation of materials found to be hazardous for purposes of the Federal
Hazardous Material Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) or under state law or regulation will
expire on the anniversary of the birthday of the applicant which is nearest to a date of six years
subsequent to the issuing of the license, unless revoked, canceled, or suspended prior to that time.
Proposed law modifies the expiration date in present law from six years to five years for a Class "C"
commercial driver's license carrying an endorsement permitting the transportation of materials found
to be hazardous.
Present law establishes that a Class "B" commercial driver's license will expire on the anniversary
of the birthday of the applicant which is nearest to a date of six years subsequent to the issuing of
the license, unless revoked, canceled, or suspended prior to that time.
Proposed law modifies the expiration date in present law from six years to five years for a Class "B"
commercial driver's license.
Present law requires that a Class "A" commercial driver's license will expire on the anniversary of
the birthday of the applicant which is nearest to a date of six years subsequent to the issuing of the
license, unless revoked, canceled, or suspended prior to that time.
Proposed law modifies the expiration date in present law from six years to five years for a Class "A"
commercial driver's license.
Present law requires every applicant 70 years of age or older for a Class "E" driver's license, or for
the renewal of a Class "E" driver's license, except those bona fide residents of the city of New
Orleans, must pay for such basic license a fee $6.75, which is the cost of the license. Requires the
license to expire on the anniversary of the birthday of the applicant which is nearest to a date of six
years subsequent to the issuing of the license, unless revoked, canceled, or suspended.
Proposed law modifies the expiration date in present law from six years to five years for a Class "E" commercial driver's license, or for the renewal of a Class "E" driver's license.
Present law requires that every applicant 70 years of age or older for a Class "D" driver's license, or
for the renewal of a Class "D" driver's license, except those bona fide residents of the city of New
Orleans, must pay for such basic license a fee of $22.13, which will be the cost of the license.
Further specifies the license will expire on the anniversary of the birthday of the applicant which is
nearest to a date of six years subsequent to the issuing of the license, unless revoked, canceled, or
suspended.
Proposed law modifies the expiration date in present law from six years to five years for a Class "D"
commercial driver's license, or the renewal of a Class "D" driver's license.
Present law requires that every applicant 70 years of age or older for a Class "E" driver's license, or
for the renewal of a Class "E" driver's license, issued to bona fide residents of the city of New
Orleans, pay for such basic license a fee of $6.75, which is the cost of the license. Further require
the license to expire on the anniversary of the birthday of the applicant which is nearest to a date of
six years subsequent to the issuing of the license, unless revoked, canceled, or suspended.
Proposed law modifies the expiration date in present law from six years to five years for a Class "E"
driver's license or the renewal of a Class "E" driver's license.
Present law requires that every applicant 70 years of age or older for a Class "D" driver's license, or
for the renewal of a Class "D" driver's license, issued to bona fide residents of the city of New
Orleans, must pay for such basic license a fee of $27.75, which is to be the cost of the license.
Further specifies that the license will expire on the anniversary of the birthday of the applicant which
is nearest to a date of six years subsequent to the issuing of the license, unless revoked, canceled, or
suspended.
Proposed law modifies the date in present law from six years to five years for a Class "D" driver's
license or the renewal of a Class "D" driver's license.
Present law requires that the addition of a motorcycle or motor scooter endorsement to a basic
license will require, besides the specific examination for such vehicles, the payment of an additional
fee of $12. Additionally if the motorcycle endorsement is to any license which is valid for less than
six years, the fee for the endorsement will be six dollars.
Proposed law modifies present law by changing the motorcycle endorsement to any license valid
from less than six years to less than five years.
Present law specifies the amount of $7.50 from the fee for a motorcycle or motor scooter
endorsement to a basic license, or the amount of $3 from the fee if the motorcycle endorsement for
any person is to a license that is valid for only less than six years be credited to the Bond Security
and Redemption Fund.
Present law requires that after a sufficient amount is allocated from that fund to pay all obligations secured by the full faith and credit of the state which become due and payable within any fiscal years,
the treasurer must pay an amount equal to the fees paid into the Bond Security and Redemption Fund
pursuant to present law, into a special agency account which is hereby created in the state treasury
and designated as the "Motorcycle Safety, Awareness, and Operator Training Program Dedicated
Fund Account", to be referred to as the "account".
Present law requires that the monies credited to the account be used solely for operator training,
instructor training, and motorcycle safety and awareness programs. Additionally, specifies that any
unexpended and unencumbered monies remaining to the credit of the account on June 13th of each
year, after all appropriations of the preceding fiscal year have been made, revert to the state general
fund. Further requires, the monies in the account be expended solely from year to year as
appropriated by the legislature for the purposes of motorcycle safety and awareness and operator
training. Any amounts earned through investment of the monies in the account must revert to the
state general fund. Additionally, specifies that any funding deposited into the account is considered
fees and self-generated revenues and be available for annual appropriations by the legislature.
Proposed law modifies present law by changing the endorsement for any person is to a license that
is valid from only less than six years to only less than five years be credited to the Bond Security and
Redemption Funds.
(Amends R.S. 32:408(A)(1) and 412(A)(4)(a) and (b)(intro. para.) and (7)(a) and (b), (B)(7)(a)(i) and
(ii), (b)(i)(intro. para.) and (ii)(intro. para.), (c)(i) and (ii)(intro. para.), (d)(i) and (ii)(intro. para.),
(e)(i)(aa) and (bb)(intro. para.), (dd)(I) and (II), (ii)(aa) and (bb), (dd)(I) and (II), and (C)(1) and (2))