An Act To Allow the Secretary of State To Issue Licenses Pending Receipt of Necessary Paperwork from the Driver Education and Evaluation Program (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0134
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: MAKER
Amends: 29-A MRSA §2505-A

Legislative Document
No. 134
S.P. 53
In Senate, January 17, 2017
An Act To Allow the Secretary of State To Issue Licenses Pending 
Receipt of Necessary Paperwork from the Driver Education and 
Evaluation Program
(AFTER DEADLINE)
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205.
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator MAKER of Washington.
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.