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Volume 40 - Issue 13A - April 1, 2021

State of Kansas

Office of the Governor

Executive Order No. 21-16
Provisions Related to Drivers’ License and
Identification Cards During the State of Disaster Emergency

WHEREAS, securing the health, safety, and economic well-being of residents of the State of Kansas is this Administration’s top priority;

WHEREAS, Kansas is facing a crisis – the pandemic and public health emergency of COVID-19—resulting in illness, quarantines, school closures, and business disruptions resulting in lost wages and financial hardship to Kansas citizens;

WHEREAS, the United States Departments of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency for COVID-19 beginning January 27, 2020, with now more than 30,147,000 cases of the illness and more than 547,000 deaths as a result of the illness across the United States;

WHEREAS, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020;

WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 of the National Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. § 1601, et seq. and consistent with Section 1135 of the Social Security Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 1320b-5), declared that the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States constitutes a national emergency beginning March 1, 2020;

WHEREAS, a State of Disaster Emergency was proclaimed for the State of Kansas on March 12, 2020, and extended to May 28, 2021, by Section 5 of Senate Bill 40 enacted during the 2021 Legislative Session;

WHEREAS, as of this date, there have been over 302,372 reported positive cases of COVID-19 in Kansas, spread among all 105 counties and 4,913 deaths as a result of the illness;

WHEREAS, on July 8, 2020, I executed Executive Order 20-55, extended by Executive Orders 20-64 and 20-70, paragraph 3 of which extended the “terms of drivers’ licenses and identification cards for all Kansas residents with State driver’s licenses and identification cards that expire or will expire between March 12, 2020, and September 15, 2020, and who are not able to renew at a State driver’s license examination office due to the State’s COVID-19 response”;

WHEREAS, on July 29, 2020, I executed Executive Order 20-60, extended by Executive Order 20-70, which lifted the statutory prohibition on those over 50 years old renewing driver’s licenses online and allowed those up to age 64 to renew online;

WHEREAS, to protect Kansans, and especially those who may be members of a vulnerable population, it continues to be necessary to make it as safe as possible for Kansans to renew their driver’s licenses and identification cards, and to extend deadlines for Kanas residents and entities to renew their driver’s licenses and identification cards to avoid unnecessary exposure to COVID-19;

WHEREAS, as of March 17, 2021, a total of 149,796 licenses and identification cards are scheduled for renewal before June 30, 2021, and under current operating conditions the average number of renewals per month has been 28,136;

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Kansas, including the authority granted me by K.S.A. 48-924 and K.S.A. 48-925(b), (c)(1), and (c)(11), in order to address the effects of the spread of COVID-19, I hereby direct and order the following:

  1. The Division of Vehicles shall extend the terms of drivers’ licenses and identification cards for all Kansas residents with State driver’s licenses and identification cards that expired or will expire from March 12, 2020, through June 30, 2021, and who are not able to renew at a State driver’s license examination office due to the State’s COVID-19 response.
  2. All driver’s license and identification card renewals extended by this Executive Order must be completed by June 30, 2021, or normal late fees will be assessed.
  3. The provision in K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 8-240(j)(2)(B) prohibiting applicants 50 years of age or older, from utilizing the electronic online driver’s license renewal application is suspended through June 30, 2021, for the limited purpose of allowing drivers 50 years of age or older to use the electronic online renewal system.
  4. Any contrary provisions in Executive Orders 20-55, 20-60, 20-64, 20-66, and 20-70 are superseded by this order.
  5. Other than as provided in paragraphs 1-4 above, this order does not alter other laws, regulations, or rules relating to the requirements in K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 8-240 for an applicant to renew their driver’s license.

This document shall be filed with the Secretary of State as Executive Order 21-16. It shall become effective immediately and remain in force until rescinded or until the statewide State of Disaster Emergency extended by Section 5 of Senate Bill 40 enacted during the 2021 Legislative Session and as extended by any subsequent enactment or resolution expires, whichever is earlier.

Dated April 1, 2021.

Laura Kelly
Governor

Doc. No. 048998

Secretary of State Seal