§415.3. Ex-offender provisional driver's license

A.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the department shall issue a provisional Class "E" driver's license to a person who is released from incarceration after serving a minimum of one year and whose Class "E" driver's license will be or is suspended, revoked, or cancelled for any reason upon his release. The license issued pursuant to this Section shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance.

(2) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to Class "E" driver's licenses and shall not apply to any other class of driver's licenses.

(3) The provisions of this Section shall not apply in the following circumstances:

(a) When a person's Class "E" driver's license has been suspended, revoked, or cancelled pursuant to a report of conviction received pursuant to Article III of the Driver License Compact.

(b) When a person was imprisoned for vehicular homicide, a third or subsequent violation of R.S. 14:98, or a third or subsequent violation of any other law or ordinance that prohibits operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

(4) A person may be issued only one provisional Class "E" driver's license in his lifetime pursuant to this Section.

(5) For the purposes of this Section, a "person who is released from incarceration" includes but is not limited to any individual who is housed in a federal residential reentry management center, also known as a halfway house.

B. A provisional Class "E" driver's license shall be issued pursuant to this Section upon the submission of proof of release from incarceration for a violation not included in Paragraph (A)(3) of this Section and the collection of the standard fees and handling charges for the issuance of driver's licenses as required by R.S. 32:412 and 412.1. The department shall defer payment of all other fees, penalties, and charges authorized by this Title that are incurred prior to or during the term of incarceration and owed by the applicant to the department.

C.(1) The holder of a provisional license issued pursuant to this Section shall have one year from the date of issuance to clear his driving record of any suspensions, revocations, or cancellations so that he may be eligible for a regular Class "E" driver's license.

(2) The holder of a provisional license issued pursuant to this Section and all state entities or political subdivisions to whom such holder may owe an obligation or debt shall notify the department upon satisfaction of such obligation or debt.

(3) If the holder of a provisional license issued pursuant to this Section qualifies for full and unrestricted Class "E" driving privileges at the end of the term of the provisional license, the department shall issue the holder a Class "E" driver's license upon the collection of the standard fees and handling charges for the issuance of the driver's license as required by R.S. 32:412 and 412.1. The department shall collect all other fees, penalties, and charges authorized by this Title that are incurred prior to or during the applicant's incarceration and owed by the applicant to the department prior to the issuance of a Class "E" driver's license pursuant to this Paragraph.

(4) The department shall reimpose all suspensions, revocations, or cancellations of driving privileges for the balance of any suspension, revocation, or cancellation period after the expiration of the one-year provisional driver's license if the holder has not come into compliance with requirements of this Title within one year following the issuance of such provisional license. Additionally, at that time, any block on the issuance of a driver's license shall be reset if the holder of a provisional driver's license issued pursuant to this Section has not come into full compliance with the requirements of this Title.

D.(1) The department may revoke the provisional license issued pursuant to this Section if the holder commits any of the following:

(a) A new offense.

(b) An act or omission that causes the community supervision, mandatory supervision, or parole of the holder of a provisional license to be revoked.

(2) A probation or parole department or division shall notify the department if the community supervision of the holder of a provisional license is revoked.

(3) A court shall notify the department if the holder of the provisional license is charged with a new offense.

(4) If the department revokes a provisional license pursuant to this Section, the holder shall not be entitled to receive another provisional license.

E. The department may promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act as necessary to implement this Section, including but not limited to eligibility criteria for a provisional license, proof of insurance, and proof of employment, if applicable.

Acts 2015, No. 407, §1; Acts 2018, No. 280, §1.