A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to authorize the issuance of a free drivers license to veterans.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 20‑9.3.  Veteran's free drivers license.
(a)	Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Chapter, 'veterans' as defined in this section shall be issued or reissued Class B or Class C drivers licenses without charge or fee.
(b)	For purposes of this section,  a person is a 'veteran' if that person meets the requirements of one of the following subdivisions of this subsection:
(1)	Persons who:
a.	Served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States or on active duty in a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the national guard, during wartime or any conflict when personnel were committed by the President of the United States, whether or not such veterans were assigned to a unit or division which directly participated in the war or not, except that periodic transfer from reserve status to active duty status for training purposes shall not be considered active duty.
b.	Were residents of this State at the time of enlistment or commissioning and are residents of this State at the time of application for the license, or who have been residents of this State for at least five years immediately preceding the date of application for the license.
c.	Have been discharged or separated under honorable conditions.
(2)	All members or former members of the North Carolina National Guard or members or former members of reserve components of the armed forces who have 20 or more years of creditable service.
(c)	The Commissioner shall issue rules implementing the issuance of free veteran's drivers licenses. These rules shall require:
(1)	That the applicant provide evidence of honorable active duty service by means of a Form DD214 which shall first be submitted to the Division of Veterans Affairs for verification by means of a form developed by the Division of Motor Vehicles that is signed by the certifying official and the applicant.
(2)	That the applicant provide evidence of honorable national guard service by means of a form, to be developed by the Division of Motor Vehicles, signed by the Adjutant General of the North Carolina National Guard verifying the required service.
(3)	That the applicant provide evidence of honorable reserve component service by means of a form developed by the Division of Motor Vehicles, submitted to the Division of Veterans Affairs for verification and signed by the certifying official and the applicant attesting to the required service.
(4)	Any other documentation that may be required by the Commissioner to verify qualification for this drivers license.
(d)	The drivers license issued pursuant to this section shall bear a  background appropriate to the veteran applicant's military service."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective January 1, 2005.