HB 1478 – AS INTRODUCED
2012 SESSION
12-2454
03/04
HOUSE BILL 1478
AN ACT relative to the definitions of resident for motor vehicle law purposes and domicile for voting purposes and relative to vehicle registration and driver’s license requirements.
SPONSORS: Rep. Bates, Rock 4; Rep. O'Brien, Hills 4; Rep. Bettencourt, Rock 4; Rep. Jasper, Hills 27; Rep. D. McGuire, Merr 8; Rep. Comerford, Rock 9; Rep. Renzullo, Hills 27; Sen. Barnes, Jr., Dist 17
COMMITTEE: Transportation
ANALYSIS
This bill modifies the definition of resident for motor vehicle law purposes and makes the determination of residence for motor vehicle law purposes the same as that of domicile for voting purposes. This bill also establishes a 40-day deadline for notifying the department of safety of changes of name or address and obtaining vehicle registrations and drivers’ licenses by new residents.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
12-2454
03/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve
AN ACT relative to the definitions of resident for motor vehicle law purposes and domicile for voting purposes and relative to vehicle registration and driver’s license requirements.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Motor Vehicles; Words and Phrases Defined; Resident. Amend RSA 259:88 to read as follows:
259:88 Resident. “Resident” shall mean a resident of the state as defined in RSA 21:6, except that no person shall be deemed to be a resident who claims residence in any other state for [any] the purpose of registering a motor vehicle as a resident of that state or for the purpose of obtaining a driver’s license as a resident of that state.
2 New Paragraph; Voter; Office Holder; Domicile. Amend RSA 654:1 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:
III. The requirements for physical presence and manifestation of an intent to make the place where a physical presence has been established as a person’s one domicile for election law purposes shall be the same as for determining residence for motor vehicle law purposes. A person who declares an address in a New Hampshire town or ward as his or her domicile for voting purposes shall be deemed to have established his or her residence for motor vehicle law purposes at that address.
3 Registration of Vehicles; Resident of State. Amend RSA 261:45 to read as follows:
261:45 Resident of State. Notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 261:44, when a nonresident has established a bona fide residency in this state, said resident shall have a maximum of [60] 40 days from the date his or her residency was established in which to register his or her vehicle in New Hampshire.
4 Registration of Vehicles; Change of Address or Name. Amend RSA 261:55 to read as follows:
261:55 Change of Address or Name.
I. Whenever any person after making application for or obtaining the registration of a vehicle shall move from the address named in the application or shown on a registration certificate or certificate of title, such person shall within [10] 40 days thereafter notify the division in writing of his or her old and new address.
II. Whenever the name of any person who has made application for or obtained the registration of a vehicle is thereafter changed by marriage or otherwise, such person shall within [10] 40 days notify the division of such former and new name.
5 Drivers’ Licenses; Change of Name or Address. Amend RSA 263:9 to read as follows:
263:9 Notice of Change of Licensee’s Name or Address. Whenever any person who has been duly licensed to drive a motor vehicle within this state shall change his or her legal name or his or her permanent residence [he] the person shall notify the director in writing of such change within [10] 40 days.
6 Drivers’ Licenses; Nonresident Who Establishes a Residency in the State. Amend RSA 263:35 to read as follows:
263:35 Nonresident Who Establishes a Residency in the State. Notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 261:44 or any other law to the contrary, any nonresident driver of a motor vehicle who holds a valid driver’s license in another jurisdiction, upon the establishment of a bona fide residency in this state, shall have a maximum of [60] 40 days from the date his or her residency was established to obtain a driver’s license issued by the state of New Hampshire.
7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect September 1, 2012.
