To amend sections 4507.23, 4507.24, and 4507.50 of the Revised Code to permit retired and honorably discharged veterans of the armed forces of the United States and the Ohio National Guard to apply for state-issued identification cards and new and renewal driver's licenses without the payment of any fee.

Section 1. That sections 4507.23, 4507.24, and 4507.50 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 4507.23.  (A) Except as provided in division (I) of this section, each application for a temporary instruction permit and examination shall be accompanied by a fee of five dollars.

(B) Except as provided in division (I) of this section, each application for a driver's license made by a person who previously held such a license and whose license has expired not more than two years prior to the date of application, and who is required under this chapter to give an actual demonstration of the person's ability to drive, shall be accompanied by a fee of three dollars in addition to any other fees.

(C) Except as provided in divisions (E) and, (I), and (J) of this section, each application for a driver's license, or motorcycle operator's endorsement, or renewal of a driver's license shall be accompanied by a fee of six dollars. Except as provided in division (I) of this section, each application for a duplicate driver's license shall be accompanied by a fee of two dollars and fifty cents. The duplicate driver's licenses issued under this section shall be distributed by the deputy registrar in accordance with rules adopted by the registrar of motor vehicles.

(D) Except as provided in division (I) of this section, each application for a motorized bicycle license or duplicate thereof shall be accompanied by a fee of two dollars and fifty cents.

(E) Except as provided in division divisions (I) and (J) of this section, each application for a driver's license or renewal of a driver's license that will be issued to a person who is less than twenty-one years of age shall be accompanied by whichever of the following fees is applicable:

(1) If the person is sixteen years of age or older, but less than seventeen years of age, a fee of seven dollars and twenty-five cents;

(2) If the person is seventeen years of age or older, but less than eighteen years of age, a fee of six dollars;

(3) If the person is eighteen years of age or older, but less than nineteen years of age, a fee of four dollars and seventy-five cents;

(4) If the person is nineteen years of age or older, but less than twenty years of age, a fee of three dollars and fifty cents;

(5) If the person is twenty years of age or older, but less than twenty-one years of age, a fee of two dollars and twenty-five cents.

(F) Neither the registrar nor any deputy registrar shall charge a fee in excess of one dollar and fifty cents for laminating a driver's license, motorized bicycle license, or temporary instruction permit identification cards as required by sections 4507.13 and 4511.521 of the Revised Code. A deputy registrar laminating a driver's license, motorized bicycle license, or temporary instruction permit identification cards shall retain the entire amount of the fee charged for lamination, less the actual cost to the registrar of the laminating materials used for that lamination, as specified in the contract executed by the bureau for the laminating materials and laminating equipment. The deputy registrar shall forward the amount of the cost of the laminating materials to the registrar for deposit as provided in this section.

(G) Except as provided in division divisions (I) and (J) of this section and except for the renewal of a driver's license, commencing on October 1, 2003, each transaction described in divisions (A), (B), (C), (D), and (E) of this section shall be accompanied by an additional fee of twelve dollars. A transaction involving the renewal of a driver's license with an expiration date on or after that date shall be accompanied by an additional fee of twelve dollars. The additional fee is for the purpose of defraying the department of public safety's costs associated with the administration and enforcement of the motor vehicle and traffic laws of Ohio.

(H) At the time and in the manner provided by section 4503.10 of the Revised Code, the deputy registrar shall transmit the fees collected under divisions (A), (B), (C), (D), and (E), those portions of the fees specified in and collected under division (F), and the additional fee under division (G) of this section to the registrar. The registrar shall pay two dollars and fifty cents of each fee collected under divisions (A), (B), (C), (D), and (E)(1) to (4) of this section, and the entire fee collected under division (E)(5) of this section, into the state highway safety fund established in section 4501.06 of the Revised Code, and such fees shall be used for the sole purpose of supporting driver licensing activities. The registrar also shall pay the entire fee collected under division (G) of this section into the state highway safety fund created in section 4501.06 of the Revised Code. The remaining fees collected by the registrar under this section shall be paid into the state bureau of motor vehicles fund established in section 4501.25 of the Revised Code.

(I) A disabled veteran who has a service-connected disability rated at one hundred per cent by the veterans' administration department of veterans affairs may apply to the registrar or a deputy registrar for the issuance to that veteran, without the payment of any fee prescribed in this section, of any of the following items:

(1) A temporary instruction permit and examination;

(2) A new, renewal, or duplicate driver's or commercial driver's license;

(3) A motorcycle operator's endorsement;

(4) A motorized bicycle license or duplicate thereof;

(5) Lamination of a driver's license, motorized bicycle license, or temporary instruction permit identification card as provided in division (F) of this section, if the circumstances specified in division (I)(5) of this section are met.

If the driver's license, motorized bicycle license, or temporary instruction permit identification card of a disabled veteran described in division (I) of this section is laminated by a deputy registrar who is acting as a deputy registrar pursuant to a contract with the registrar that is in effect on October 14, 1997, the disabled veteran shall be required to pay the deputy registrar the lamination fee provided in division (F) of this section. If the driver's license, motorized bicycle license, or temporary instruction permit identification card of such a disabled veteran is laminated by a deputy registrar who is acting as a deputy registrar pursuant to a contract with the registrar that is executed after October 14, 1997, the disabled veteran is not required to pay the deputy registrar the lamination fee provided in division (F) of this section.

A disabled veteran whose driver's license, motorized bicycle license, or temporary instruction permit identification card is laminated by the registrar is not required to pay the registrar any lamination fee.

An application made under division (I) of this section shall be accompanied by such documentary evidence of disability as the registrar may require by rule.

(J)(1) Any person who is a retired or honorably discharged veteran of any branch of the armed forces of the United States or the Ohio national guard may apply to the registrar or a deputy registrar for the issuance of a new or renewal driver's license without the payment of any fee prescribed in this section, including payment of any lamination fee, and without payment of any registrar service fee or deputy registrar service fee. The application shall be accompanied by such written evidence that the applicant is a retired or honorably discharged veteran of a branch of the armed forces of the United States or the Ohio national guard as the registrar shall require by rule.

(2) Division (J)(1) of this section does not apply to any of the following:

(a) Any permit, license, or examination specified in Chapter 4506. of the Revised Code;

(b) A temporary instruction permit and examination;

(c) A duplicate driver's license;

(d) A motorcycle operator's endorsement;

(e) A motorized bicycle license or duplicate thereof.

Sec. 4507.24.  (A) Except as provided in division (B)(C) of this section, each deputy registrar may collect a fee not to exceed the following:

(1) Three dollars and seventy-five cents commencing on July 1, 2001, four dollars and twenty-five cents commencing on January 1, 2003, and four dollars and fifty cents commencing on January 1, 2004, for each application for renewal of a driver's license received by the deputy registrar, when the applicant is required to submit to a screening of the applicant's vision under section 4507.12 of the Revised Code;

(2) Two dollars and seventy-five cents commencing on July 1, 2001, three dollars and twenty-five cents commencing on January 1, 2003, and three dollars and fifty cents commencing on January 1, 2004, for each application for a driver's license, or motorized bicycle license, or for renewal of such a license, received by the deputy registrar, when the applicant is not required to submit to a screening of the applicant's vision under section 4507.12 of the Revised Code.

(B) The fees prescribed by division (A) of this section shall be in addition to the fee for a temporary instruction permit and examination, a driver's license, a motorized bicycle license, or duplicates thereof, and shall compensate the deputy registrar for the deputy registrar's services, for office and rental expense, and for costs as provided in division (C)(D) of this section, as are necessary for the proper discharge of the deputy registrar's duties under sections 4507.01 to 4507.39 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) A disabled veteran who has a service-connected disability rated at one hundred per cent by the veterans' administration department of veterans affairs is required to pay the applicable fee prescribed in division (A) of this section if the disabled veteran submits an application for a driver's license or motorized bicycle license or a renewal of either of these licenses to a deputy registrar who is acting as a deputy registrar pursuant to a contract with the registrar that is in effect on the effective date of this amendment. The disabled veteran also is required to submit with the disabled veteran's application such documentary evidence of disability as the registrar may require by rule.

A disabled veteran who submits an application described in this division is not required to pay either of the fees prescribed in division (A) of this section if the disabled veteran submits the application to a deputy registrar who is acting as a deputy registrar pursuant to a contract with the registrar that is executed after the effective date of this amendment. The disabled veteran still is required to submit with the disabled veteran's application such documentary evidence of disability as the registrar may require by rule.

A disabled veteran who submits an application described in this division directly to the registrar is not required to pay either of the fees prescribed in division (A) of this section if the disabled veteran submits with the disabled veteran's application such documentary evidence of disability as the registrar may require by rule.

(C)(2) Any person who is a retired or honorably discharged veteran of any branch of the armed forces of the United States or the Ohio national guard is not required to pay either of the fees prescribed in division (A) of this section when the person submits an application for a driver's license or for renewal of a driver's license. The application shall be accompanied by such written evidence that the applicant is a retired or honorably discharged veteran of a branch of the armed forces of the United States or the Ohio national guard as the registrar shall require by rule.

(D) Each deputy registrar shall transmit to the registrar of motor vehicles, at such time and in such manner as the registrar shall require by rule, an amount of each fee collected under division (A)(1) of this section as shall be determined by the registrar. The registrar shall pay all such moneys so received into the state bureau of motor vehicles fund created in section 4501.25 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4507.50.  (A) The registrar of motor vehicles or a deputy registrar, upon receipt of an application filed in compliance with section 4507.51 of the Revised Code by any person who is a resident or a temporary resident of this state and, except as otherwise provided in this section, is not licensed as an operator of a motor vehicle in this state or another licensing jurisdiction, and, except as provided in division (B) of this section, upon receipt of a fee of three dollars and fifty cents, shall issue an identification card to that person.

Any person who is a resident or temporary resident of this state whose Ohio driver's or commercial driver's license has been suspended or canceled, upon application in compliance with section 4507.51 of the Revised Code and, except as provided in division (B) of this section, payment of a fee of three dollars and fifty cents, may be issued a temporary identification card. The temporary identification card shall be identical to an identification card, except that it shall be printed on its face with a statement that the card is valid during the effective dates of the suspension or cancellation of the cardholder's license, or until the birthday of the cardholder in the fourth year after the date on which it is issued, whichever is shorter. The cardholder shall surrender the identification card to the registrar or any deputy registrar before the cardholder's driver's or commercial driver's license is restored or reissued.

Except as provided in division (B) of this section, the deputy registrar shall be allowed a fee of two dollars and seventy-five cents commencing on July 1, 2001, three dollars and twenty-five cents commencing on January 1, 2003, and three dollars and fifty cents commencing on January 1, 2004, for each identification card issued under this section. The fee allowed to the deputy registrar shall be in addition to the fee for issuing an identification card.

Neither the registrar nor any deputy registrar shall charge a fee in excess of one dollar and fifty cents for laminating an identification card or temporary identification card. A deputy registrar laminating such a card shall retain the entire amount of the fee charged for lamination, less the actual cost to the registrar of the laminating materials used for that lamination, as specified in the contract executed by the bureau for the laminating materials and laminating equipment. The deputy registrar shall forward the amount of the cost of the laminating materials to the registrar for deposit as provided in this section.

The fee collected for issuing an identification card under this section, except the fee allowed to the deputy registrar, shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the state bureau of motor vehicles fund created in section 4501.25 of the Revised Code.

(B) A disabled veteran who has a service-connected disability rated at one hundred per cent by the veterans' administration department of veterans affairs and any person who is a retired or honorably discharged veteran of any branch of the armed forces of the United States or the Ohio national guard may apply to the registrar or a deputy registrar for the issuance to that veteran of an identification card or a temporary identification card under this section without payment of any fee prescribed in division (A) of this section, including any lamination fee.

An application made under this division (B) of this section shall be accompanied by such documentary evidence of disability or status as a retired or honorably discharged veteran of a branch of the armed forces of the United States or the Ohio national guard as the registrar may shall require by rule.

Section 2. That existing sections 4507.23, 4507.24, and 4507.50 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.