S. 998 · 117th Congress · Senate

Driving for Opportunity Act of 2021

Active· Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 260.
Introduced
Mar 25, 21
Passed Senate
Pending
Passed House
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending

Executive Summary

Driving for Opportunity Act of 2021

This bill authorizes the Department of Justice to make grants to states that do not suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a driver's license of an individual based on such individual's failure to pay a civil or criminal fine or fee.

Grants shall be awarded to (1) cover the costs incurred by a state to reinstate driver's licenses previously suspended for unpaid fines and fees; (2) maximize the number of individuals with suspended driver's licenses eligible to have driving privileges reinstated or regained; (3) provide assistance to individuals living in areas where public transportation options are limited; and (4) ease the burden on states where the state or local law that permitted the suspension or revocation of, or refusal to renew, driver's licenses or the registration of a motor vehicle based on the failure to pay civil or criminal fines or fees was in effect during the three year period ending on the date on which a state applies for or receives a grant under this bill.

The Government Accountability Office must study the implementation of the grant program authorized by this bill, including the known effects of repealing state laws that have permitted the suspension, revocation, or refusal of a driver's license or motor vehicle registration based on the failure to pay civil or criminal fines or fees.

Previous Versions

00Mar 25, 2021

Driving for Opportunity Act of 2021

This bill authorizes the Department of Justice to make grants to states that do not suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a driver's license of an individual based on such individual's failure to pay a civil or criminal fine or fee.

Grants shall be awarded to (1) cover the costs incurred by a state to reinstate driver's licenses previously suspended for unpaid fines and fees; (2) maximize the number of individuals with suspended driver's licenses eligible to have driving privileges reinstated or regained; (3) provide assistance to individuals living in areas where public transportation options are limited; and (4) ease the burden on states where the state or local law that permitted the suspension or revocation of, or refusal to renew, driver's licenses or the registration of a motor vehicle based on the failure to pay civil or criminal fines or fees was in effect during the three year period ending on the date on which a state applies for or receives a grant under this bill.

The Government Accountability Office must study the implementation of the grant program authorized by this bill, including the known effects of repealing state laws that have permitted the suspension, revocation, or refusal of a driver's license or motor vehicle registration based on the failure to pay civil or criminal fines or fees.

Action Timeline

6
  1. FEB 03, 2022Committee

    Committee on the Judiciary

    Reported by Senator Durbin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

  2. FEB 03, 2022Committee

    Committee on the Judiciary

    Reported by Senator Durbin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

  3. FEB 03, 2022Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 260.

  4. OCT 28, 2021Committee

    Committee on the Judiciary

    Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  5. MAR 25, 2021IntroReferral

    Introduced in Senate

  6. MAR 25, 2021IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Committees

3

Judiciary Committee

ssju00

Referred: Feb 3, 2022

Active

Judiciary Committee

ssju00

Referred: Oct 28, 2021

Active

Judiciary Committee

ssju00

Referred: Mar 25, 2021

Active