§ 8-243 — Issuance of licenses; contents; signature; photograph, exception; fee; anatomical gift; distinguishable license for deaf and hard of hearing; distinguishable number for registered offenders; veterans; persons needing assistance with cognition

(a) Upon payment of the required fee, the division shall issue to every applicant qualifying under the provisions of this act the driver's license as applied for by the applicant. Such license shall bear the class or classes of motor vehicles that the licensee is entitled to drive, a distinguishing number assigned to the licensee, the full legal name, date of birth, gender, address of principal residence and a brief description of the licensee, either: (1) A digital color image or photograph; or (2) a laser-engraved photograph of the licensee, a facsimile of the signature of the licensee and the statement provided for in subsection (b). No driver's license shall be valid until it has been signed by the licensee. All drivers' licenses issued to persons under the age of 21 years shall be readily distinguishable from licenses issued to persons age 21 years or older. In addition, all drivers' licenses issued to persons under the age of 18 years shall also be readily distinguishable from licenses issued to persons age 18 years or older. The secretary of revenue shall implement a vertical format to make drivers' licenses issued to persons under the age of 21 more readily distinguishable. Except as otherwise provided, no driver's license issued by the division shall be valid until either: (1) A digital color image or photograph; or (2) a laser-engraved photograph of such licensee has been taken and verified before being placed on the driver's license. The secretary of revenue shall prescribe a fee of not more than $8 and upon the payment of such fee, the division shall cause either: (1) A digital color image or photograph; or (2) a laser-engraved photograph of such applicant to be placed on the driver's license. Upon payment of such fee prescribed by the secretary of revenue, plus payment of the fee required by K.S.A. 8-246, and amendments thereto, for issuance of a new license, the division shall issue to such licensee a new license containing either: (1) A digital color image or photograph; or (2) a laser-engraved photograph of such licensee. A driver's license that does not contain the principal address as required may be issued to persons who are program participants pursuant to K.S.A. 75-455, and amendments thereto, upon payment of the fee required by K.S.A. 8-246, and amendments thereto. All Kansas drivers' licenses and identification cards shall have physical security features designed to prevent tampering, counterfeiting or duplication of the document for fraudulent purposes. The secretary of revenue shall incorporate common machine-readable technology into all Kansas drivers' licenses and identification cards.
(b) A Kansas driver's license issued to any person 16 years of age or older who indicated on the person's application that the person wished to make a gift of all or any part of the body of the licensee in accordance with the revised uniform anatomical gift act, K.S.A. 65-3220 through 65-3244, and amendments thereto, shall have the word "Donor" placed on the front of the licensee's driver's license.
(c) Any person who is deaf or hard of hearing may request that the division issue to such person a driver's license which is readily distinguishable from drivers' licenses issued to other drivers and upon such request the division shall issue such license. Drivers' licenses issued to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and under the age of 21 years shall be readily distinguishable from drivers' licenses issued to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and 21 years of age or older. Upon satisfaction of subsection (a), the division shall issue a receipt of application permitting the operation of a vehicle consistent with the requested class, if there are no other restrictions or limitations, pending the division's verification of the information and production of a driver's license.
(d) A driver's license issued to a person required to be registered under K.S.A. 22-4901 et seq., and amendments thereto, shall be assigned a distinguishing number by the division which will readily indicate to law enforcement officers that such person is a registered offender. The division shall develop a numbering system to implement the provisions of this subsection.
(e) (1) Any person who is a veteran may request that the division issue to such person a driver's license that shall include the designation "VETERAN" displayed on the front of the driver's license at a location to be determined by the secretary of revenue. In order to receive a license described in this subsection, the veteran shall provide a copy of the veteran's DD form 214, NGB form 22 or equivalent discharge document showing character of service as honorable or general under honorable conditions.
(2) As used in this subsection, "veteran" means a person who served in the active military, naval, air or space service and who was discharged or released therefrom under an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions.
(3) The director of vehicles may adopt any rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection.
(f) (1) Any person who submits satisfactory proof to the director of vehicles, on a form provided by the director, that such person needs assistance with cognition, including, but not limited to, persons with autism spectrum disorder, may request that the division issue to such person a driver's license, that shall note such impairment on the driver's license at a location to be determined by the secretary of revenue.
(2) Satisfactory proof that a person needs assistance with cognition shall include a statement from a person licensed to practice the healing arts in any state, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under K.S.A. 65-1131, and amendments thereto, a licensed physician assistant or a person clinically licensed by the Kansas behavioral sciences regulatory board certifying that such person needs assistance with cognition.

Legislative History

L. 1937, ch. 73, § 10; L. 1949, ch. 104, § 14; L. 1959, ch. 49, § 11; L. 1973, ch. 31, § 11; L. 1975, ch. 36, § 14; L. 1975, ch. 37, § 2; L. 1979, ch. 37, § 1; L. 1983, ch. 31, § 1; L. 1984, ch. 36, § 3; L. 1989, ch. 38, § 28; L. 1993, ch. 154, § 6; L. 1993, ch. 280, § 1; L. 1994, ch. 24, § 1; L. 1994, ch. 322, § 1; L. 1996, ch. 219, § 2; L. 1997, ch. 33, § 1; L. 1998, ch. 132, § 2; L. 2003, ch. 5, § 2; L. 2003, ch. 55, § 1; L. 2004, ch. 155, § 4; L. 2006, ch. 214, § 3; L. 2007, ch. 160, § 5; L. 2007, ch. 195, § 3; L. 2008, ch. 138, § 1; L. 2013, ch. 74, § 1; L. 2016, ch. 73, § 2; L. 2017, ch. 26, § 2; L. 2018, ch. 31, § 2; L. 2024, ch. 84, § 7; July 1.