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EVM:kjf&emw
2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
October 14, 2021 - Introduced by Representatives Shelton, Anderson, Bowen,
Considine, Drake, Emerson, Hebl, Neubauer, Pope, Sinicki, Spreitzer,
Subeck, Vruwink and Cabrera, cosponsored by Senator Larson. Referred to
Committee on Transportation.
AB616,1,3 1An Act to amend 343.14 (3) and 343.16 (3) (a); and to create 343.16 (3) (c) of the
2statutes; relating to: application for and issuance of operator's license
3renewals by electronic means.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, most operator's licenses issued by the Department of
Transportation must be renewed every eight years. In general, an applicant for
renewal of an operator's license must pass an eyesight test and have his or her
photograph taken.
Under this bill, if an applicant for renewal of an operator's license, other than
a commercial driver license, meets certain requirements, the applicant may apply for
renewal, and DOT may renew the license, by electronic means. The renewal may
occur without an eyesight test and without a photograph. Among the eligibility
requirements for use of the electronic procedure are 1) that the applicant's most
recent previous license transaction was not made by electronic means; 2) that the
applicant's license is not subject to restrictions based on medical conditions, other
than a requirement that the applicant use corrective lenses; 3) that the applicant is
not more than 65 years of age; and 4) that the applicant meets any additional criteria
for eligibility established by DOT. An applicant must also verify that he or she is
aware that the license issued under this procedure may be a REAL ID noncompliant
license that is not intended to be accepted by federal agencies for federal
identification or other official purposes.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB616,1 1Section 1. 343.14 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB616,2,92 343.14 (3) Except as provided in sub. (3m) and s. 343.16 (3) (c), the department
3shall, as part of the application process, take a digital photograph including facial
4image capture of the applicant to comply with s. 343.17 (3) (a) 2. Except as provided
5in sub. (3m) and s. 343.16 (3) (c), no application may be processed without the
6photograph being taken. Except as provided in sub. (3m) and s. ss. 343.16 (3) (c) and
7343.165 (4) (d), in the case of renewal licenses, the photograph shall be taken once
8every 8 years, and shall coincide with the appearance for examination which is
9required under s. 343.16 (3).
AB616,2 10Section 2. 343.16 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB616,3,511 343.16 (3) (a) Except as provided in s. 343.165 (4) (d), the department shall
12examine every applicant for the renewal of an operator's license once every 8 years.
13The department may institute a method of selecting the date of renewal so that such
14examination shall be required for each applicant for renewal of a license to gain a
15uniform rate of examinations. Subject to par. pars. (am) and (c), the examination
16shall consist of a test of eyesight. The department shall make provisions for giving
17such examinations at examining stations in each county to all applicants for an
18operator's license. The person to be examined shall appear at the examining station
19nearest the person's place of residence or at such time and place as the department
20designates in answer to an applicant's request. In lieu of examination, the applicant
21may present or mail to the department a report of examination of the applicant's

1eyesight by an ophthalmologist, optometrist or physician licensed to practice
2medicine. The report shall be based on an examination made not more than 3 months
3prior to the date it is submitted. The report shall be on a form furnished and in the
4form required by the department. The department shall decide whether, in each
5case, the eyesight reported is sufficient to meet the current eyesight standards.
AB616,3 6Section 3. 343.16 (3) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB616,3,107 343.16 (3) (c) 1. An applicant for the renewal of an operator's license other than
8a commercial driver license may apply for the license, and the department may issue
9the license, by any electronic means offered by the department if all of the following
10apply:
AB616,3,1211 a. The applicant's license is not subject to restrictions based on medical
12conditions, other than a requirement that the applicant use corrective lenses.
AB616,3,1313 b. The applicant is not more than 65 years of age.
AB616,3,1514 c. The applicant verifies that his or her eyesight is sufficient to meet the current
15eyesight standards.
AB616,3,1816 d. The applicant verifies that he or she is aware that the license may contain
17the marking specified in s. 343.03 (3r) and may not be eligible for acceptance by a
18federal agency for federal identification or other official purposes.
AB616,3,2019 e. The applicant satisfies any eligibility criteria established by the department
20under subd. 2.
AB616,3,2221 2. The department may establish additional criteria for eligibility for license
22renewal by electronic means under this paragraph.
AB616,3,2423 3. a. The department may renew a license under this paragraph without a test
24of eyesight.
AB616,4,3
1b. Subject to s. 343.165 (7), the department may renew a license under this
2paragraph without a photograph being taken if the department is able to produce a
3photograph of the applicant from its records.
AB616,4,54 4. The department may not make consecutive renewals of an operator's license
5by electronic means.
AB616,4,66 (End)
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