HOUSE BILL NO. 1704 Offered January 10, 2007 Prefiled December 15, 2006 A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-221.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to extension of the expiration date of certain driver's licenses. ---------- Patron-- Lingamfelter ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 46.2-221.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 46.2-221.2. Extension of expiration of driver's licenses issued to certain persons in armed services or diplomatic service of the United States or employed by or providing services under contract with the U.S. Department of Defense, the armed forces, or the U.S. diplomatic service.

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, any driver's license that is issued by the Department under Chapter 3 (§ 46.2-300 et seq.) of this title to (i) a person serving outside the Commonwealth in as a member of the armed services of the United States or an employee of the U.S. Department of Defense, (ii) a person serving outside the Commonwealth as a member of the diplomatic service of the United States appointed under the Foreign Service Act of 1946, or (iii) a spouse or dependent accompanying any such member of the armed services or diplomatic service or employee of the U.S. Department of Defense serving outside the Commonwealth, (iv) any government contractor who is a citizen of the United States providing services outside the Commonwealth to the U.S. Department of Defense, the armed forces, or the diplomatic services of the United States, or (v) any spouse or dependent accompanying any such citizen contractor providing services outside the Commonwealth to the U.S. Department of Defense, the armed forces, or the diplomatic services shall be held not to have expired during the period of the licensee's service, as provided in (i) through (v) above, outside the Commonwealth in the armed services of the United States or as a member of the diplomatic service of the United States appointed under the Foreign Service Act of 1946 serving outside the United States and for 60 days thereafter. However, no extension granted under this section shall exceed three years from the date of expiration shown on the individual's driver's license unless such person is officially listed as a prisoner of war, missing in action, or detained unlawfully. The Department shall furnish any person whose driver's license is extended under this section documentary or other proof, when operating any motor vehicle, that he is entitled to the benefits of this section.

The Department shall provide for a voluntary registration system on its website to enable persons covered by (i) through (v) above, on a voluntary basis, to notify the Department of the expected duration of their service outside the Commonwealth, in order to assist the Department in anticipating those licensees whose licenses qualify for an extension of their expiration dates during their period of service outside the Commonwealth.

For the purposes of this section "service in the armed services of the United States" includes active duty service with the regular Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard or other reserve component.