To provide grants to States that do not suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a driver's license of a person or refuse to renew a registration of a motor vehicle for failure to pay a civil or criminal fine or fee, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · July 13, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
The Driving for Opportunity Act of 2023 would provide federal grants to states that stop suspending or revoking driver's licenses solely for unpaid fines and fees, and that have already repealed such laws within the past three years. The bill recognizes that in many areas without public transportation, a driver's license is essential for employment, healthcare, and basic survival, and that suspending licenses for debt creates a counterproductive cycle where people lose the ability to earn income and pay what they owe. The legislation authorizes $10 million annually from 2024 through 2028 for states to reinstate or renew licenses previously suspended for unpaid financial obligations, with individual grants capped at 5 percent of each state's formula allocation. States receiving grants must submit reports within one year on the number of licenses reinstated and program costs, and within two years on how the reinstatement program affected fine and fee collection. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to study the effects of repealing these suspension laws in selected states, examining impacts on fine collection, law enforcement resources, employment, safety, and racial disparities.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.