Framingham Reps Vote Yes on the Work and Family Mobility Act

FRAMINGHAM – Wednesday, February 16, 2022 – In an unprecedented effort to increase safety on our roads, Framingham Representatives Maria Robinson, Carmine Gentile, and Jack Patrick Lewis joined their colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives yesterday in passing legislation in a 120 - 36 vote, which will allow applicants who are unable to prove lawful presence in the United States to apply for a Massachusetts driver’s license.

Under this legislation, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) will not inquire about immigration status when processing an application for a Massachusetts driver’s license or registration, solely basing the issuance of driver’s licenses to residents who provide required documents to prove their identity, pass the corresponding driver tests, and meet all other eligibility criteria. Sixteen other states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have all implemented this policy to allow all residents to receive driver's licenses regardless of immigration status.

“I’m proud of the significant step that the House took today towards bringing all drivers under the same licensing and insurance standards, regardless of immigration status,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “In addition to increasing safety on our roads for all drivers, this legislation recognizes the essential role our immigrant neighbors play in our society and economy by ensuring that everyone has access to a driver’s license. I thank Chair Straus, Chair Michlewitz, the bill’s sponsors, and all my colleagues in the House, as well as countless supporters, immigration and labor advocates, and law enforcement officials for their tireless work to ensure its passage.”

“It was heartening to see strong support from across the Commonwealth, knowing how much this bill will benefit immigrant communities in places like Framingham,” said Representative Maria Robinson. “I have heard from so many constituents over the past few years about how this bill will make a huge difference in increasing public safety, and I am pleased to see it passed in the House.”

Representative Carmine Gentile (D- Sudbury), a co-sponsor of the bill, said, “Passage of this legislation marks a great day for public safety in the Commonwealth! Experience in the 16 states that have enacted similar legislation tells us to expect a 10% decrease in drivers leaving the scene of an accident. We’ll have tens of thousands more drivers with, rather than without, motor vehicle insurance, and the Commonwealth will collect an additional $5Million in annual licensing fees.” Gentile also thanked, “the majority of District Attorneys and major city Police Chiefs that supported the bill, and House Transportation Committee Chair William Strauss (D- Mattapoisett) who made sure that only persons whose identity is confirmed by a valid passport or consular certificate will be eligible for these licenses - satisfying Governor Baker’s requirement that ‘we know who we are granting a license to.’”

This bill will benefit public safety in the Commonwealth by ensuring more drivers on the roads are properly trained, tested, and insured. With more drivers on the road with insurance, this will bring down the cost of auto insurance for all drivers.

“In line with the 16 other states that have passed laws offering standard licenses to those providing secure identification documents, this carefully crafted public safety legislation will mean that all drivers using our roads are identifiable, competent and insured,” said Representative William M. Straus (D-Mattapoisett), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation.

“I want to thank all those legislators, law enforcement leaders, immigration advocates and public health officials who worked tirelessly to advance this bill through today’s historic vote in the House,” said Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian. “Efforts on this issue date back to my time as a state representative. Then, as now, it was clear that this bill would improve public safety and public health. While I was supportive of this concept 20 years ago, it was the rigorous identification requirements in the final version of this bill that strengthened it further and made today’s vote possible. I applaud Speaker Mariano for bringing it to the floor and the individuals who lent their stories and voices to this important cause.”

To apply for a standard driver’s license, applicants will need to provide at least two documents to prove their identity and date of birth. All documents written in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified translation to English:
· Document #1: valid unexpired foreign passport or valid unexpired consular ID
· Document #2: valid US driver's license, birth certificate, valid foreign national ID card, valid foreign driver’s license, or a marriage certificate or divorce decree
Residents who cannot prove lawful presence in the United States would remain ineligible for a "REAL ID” which requires documentation of U.S. citizenship or lawful status as a matter of federal law. To protect applicants’ privacy, the legislation also prohibits the RMV from disclosing any information about applicants for and holders of a standard driver’s license except as authorized by regulations promulgated by the Attorney General.

“I am so very grateful to my colleagues' work to pass this bill,” noted Representative Lewis. “It is an honor to be a co-sponsor of this legislation, and in my role as the Co-Chair of the House Progressive Caucus, to assist in the passage of this Caucus priority. This is a win for public safety and our shared values manifest.”

The bill now heads the Senate.

###

Image Description:

Light blue slide with small graphic of a drivers license on the left. Top middle text reading: The MA House of Representatives passed H.4461 An Act relative to Work and Family Mobility.
Text below:
This bill allows all Massachusetts residents to apply for a Standard MA driver’s license regardless of immigration status. This ensures all drivers have: standardized identification, insurance & standardized road safety training.
Below that there are three boxes side by side under the words “why is this important?”
First box on the left: "EQUITY Ensures everyone can get to work, take their kids to school, and participate in their communities, without fear of driving without a license”
Middle box: "PUBLIC SAFTEY This bill makes our roads safer & promotes trust between law enforcement & communities they serve by allowing for identification for all”
Box on the right: “PUBLIC HEALTH Promotes the health of all. In the wake of COVID, all MA residents should utilize the health care system & access care when they need it.”

Bottom left corner social media handles Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @RepJackLewis