SECTION 1. Section 8 of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting in line 11, after the word “require”, the following paragraph:- 

Nothing in this section shall permit the registrar to deny a license to operate motor vehicles or learner’s permit application based on a failure by a Massachusetts resident ineligible for a social security number to provide a social security number or evidence of immigration status. 

SECTION 2.  Section 8B of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting in line 7, after the word “require”, the following paragraph:-

Nothing in this section shall permit the registrar to deny a license to operate motor vehicles or learner’s permit application based on a failure by a Massachusetts resident ineligible for a social security number to provide a social security number or evidence of immigration status. 

SECTION 3.  Chapter 90 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after section 8B the following section:-

Section 8B½. A license to operate motor vehicles or learner’s permit may, under the rules and regulations established by the registrar, be issued to a Massachusetts resident ineligible for a social security number. 

(a) A holder of a license issued under this section shall be subject to any and all provisions of the General Laws and any and all implementing regulations to the same extent as any other person issued a driver’s license, unless otherwise provided in the General Laws or by administrative rule, including but not limited to the examination requirements in section 8 of this chapter as well as the mandatory insurance requirements and penalties set forth in sections 1A and 34J of this chapter.

(b) A license, learner’s permit or Massachusetts identification card shall not confer eligibility for any public benefit. 

(c) The Registrar shall adopt rules for implementing this section, including designating acceptable evidence that an applicant is ineligible for a social security number. 

(d) To the maximum extent allowed by applicable federal law, information collected about applicants for a license to operate motor vehicles, learner’s permit or Massachusetts identification card shall be treated as confidential and shall not be disclosed to government entities or private parties unless such disclosure is:

(i) Authorized in writing by the individual to whom such information pertains, or if such individual is a minor or is otherwise not legally competent, by such individual’s parent or legal guardian; or

(ii) So ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.