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An Act To Allow the Secretary of State To Issue Licenses Pending Receipt of Necessary Paperwork from the Driver Education and Evaluation Program
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  Maine is a rural state where the possession of a valid driver's license is necessary for residents to work, go to school and perform other activities of daily life; and
Whereas,  first-time offenders under various motor vehicle driving laws who have had their licenses suspended may receive a driver's licenses from the Secretary of State after completing certain elements of the driver education and evaluation program conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services; and
Whereas,  bureaucratic processes often delay the transmission of official notice of completion of certain elements of the driver education and evaluation program from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Secretary of State; and
Whereas,  participants who suffer delays in transmission of official notice of completion of the driver education and evaluation program after fulfilling all requirements necessary to receive a driver's license from the Secretary of State experience hardship due to the delay in receiving the driver's license through no fault of their own; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §2505-A  is enacted to read:
§ 2505-A. Documentation of program completion
In conjunction with license restoration for a first-time offender whose license was suspended under section 2411, 2453, 2453-A, 2472 or 2521 or under Title 15, section 3314, the Secretary of State may issue a license pending receipt of official notice that the person has completed all the required components of the alcohol and other drug program pursuant to Title 5, section 20073-B if the person provides documentation that the person has completed all the requirements of the program.
This section is repealed December 31, 2017.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows a person who has completed the Department of Health and Human Services driver education and evaluation program to receive a driver's license upon providing documentation of completion of the program before official notice of completion is received by the Secretary of State directly from the Department of Health and Human Services. This provision automatically repeals itself December 31, 2017.