NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A3020REVISED 2/7/25
SPONSOR: Dilan TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to providing
for electronic credentials
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this legislation is to allow for the issuance of an elec-
tronic credential to an individual in addition to, but not in place of
any physical license or identification card that an individual has
already been issued.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Amends the vehicle and traffic law by adding a new section
504-a which includes definitions for terms, allows for the issuance of
electronic credentials and allows for the creation and operation of an
electronic verification system for electronic credentials.
Section 2. sets the effective date
JUSTIFICATION:
By allowing for the issuance of electronic credentials, New Yorker's
will have a more convenient and secure option when it comes to providing
identification. These digital ID's would provide significant benefits
where physical ID's lack enhancing convenience and accessibility while
simultaneously providing the enhanced security and privacy that would
come with access to electronic credentials.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Introduced every year since 2021 and never reported out of Assembly
transportation committee.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
TBD
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3020
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 23, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DILAN -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to providing
for electronic credentials
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
2 section 504-a to read as follows:
3 § 504-a. Electronic credentials. 1. As used in this section, the
4 following terms shall have the following meanings:
5 (a) "Credential holder" means the individual to whom an electronic
6 credential is issued.
7 (b) "Data field" means a discrete piece of information printed or
8 otherwise appearing on a license or an identification card.
9 (c) "Electronic credential" means an electronic representation of a
10 license, an identification card, or a data field.
11 (d) "Full profile" means all the information provided on a license or
12 an identification card.
13 (e) "Limited profile" means a portion of the information provided on a
14 license or an identification card.
15 2. (a) The commissioner shall issue an electronic credential to an
16 individual in addition to, and not instead of, a license or an identifi-
17 cation card if the commissioner has issued to the individual:
18 (i) a license under this article; or
19 (ii) an identification card under article seventeen-A of this chapter.
20 (b) The commissioner shall enter into agreements with any agency of
21 the state, another state, or the United States as necessary to facili-
22 tate the issuance, use, and verification of electronic credentials
23 issued by the commissioner or another state.
24 (c) The commissioner shall create an electronic credential that:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06379-01-5
A. 3020 2
1 (i) is capable of producing both a full profile and a limited profile;
2 and
3 (ii) satisfies the purpose for which the profile is being presented.
4 (d) The commissioner shall design such electronic credential in a
5 manner that allows the credential holder to maintain physical possession
6 of the device on which the electronic credential is accessed during
7 verification.
8 3. (a) The commissioner shall create and operate a verification system
9 for electronic credentials.
10 (b) (i) Access to the verification system and any data field by a
11 person presented with an electronic credential shall require the consent
12 of the credential holder.
13 (ii) If consent is granted under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph,
14 the commissioner shall release through the verification system:
15 (1) for a full profile, all data fields that appear on the physical
16 credential that corresponds with the electronic credential that is being
17 verified; or
18 (2) for a limited profile, only the data fields represented in the
19 limited profile for the physical credential that corresponds with the
20 electronic credential that is being verified.
21 (c) A third party may administer on behalf of the commissioner any
22 system developed to facilitate the issuance, verification, and use of
23 electronic credentials.
24 4. The commissioner may charge a fee for:
25 (a) the issuance of an electronic credential; and
26 (b) the use of an electronic verification system.
27 5. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, an electronic
28 credential issued pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be
29 accepted in place of the driver's license or identification card which
30 corresponds to such electronic credential where the person to which the
31 electronic credential is presented has access to the verification system
32 established pursuant to subdivision three of this section.
33 6. The commissioner shall promulgate any rules or regulations neces-
34 sary to carry out the provisions of this section.
35 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
36 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
37 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
38 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
39 completed on or before such effective date.
