1. In a county where personal property tax records are accessible via computer, and when proof of motor vehicle liability insurance, safety inspections and emission inspections where required are verifiable by computer, the department of revenue shall design and implement a motor vehicle license renewal system which may be used through the department’s internet website connection. The department of revenue shall also design and implement an online system allowing the filing and payment of Missouri state taxes through the department’s internet website connection. The online tax filing and payment system shall be available for the payment of Missouri state taxes for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2002.

2. The department of revenue is hereby authorized to design and implement a remote driver’s license renewal system which may be used through the department’s internet website connection or through self-service terminals available at one or more locations within the state. Any remote driver’s license renewal system implemented by the department shall be compliant with the provisions of the federal REAL ID Act of 2005 (Public Law 108-13), as amended, the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 (Title XII of Public Law 99-570), as amended, the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (Title X of Public Law 107-56), as amended, and any regulations related thereto.

3. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, applicants who have applied in person and received a driver’s or nondriver’s license in accordance with chapter 302 may apply for no more than one consecutive three-year or six-year license renewal remotely in accordance with this section. Remote application for renewal shall be made within six months before or after the expiration date of the license in accordance with section 302.173.

4. Applicants for remote driver’s license renewal in accordance with this section shall not be required to complete the highway sign recognition test required under section 302.173 unless the department has technology that may be used remotely for such purpose. Applicants for remote driver’s license renewal in accordance with this section shall not be required to complete the vision test established under section 302.175, provided the applicant shall certify under penalty of law that the applicant’s vision satisfies the requirements of section 302.175 and that the applicant has undergone an examination of eyesight by a licensed ophthalmologist or a licensed optometrist within the last twelve months. As a condition for renewal in accordance with this section, the applicant shall authorize the exchange of vision and medical information between the department and the applicant’s ophthalmologist or optometrist, and shall be at least twenty-one years of age but less than fifty years of age. The ophthalmologist or optometrist shall have four business days to confirm or deny the vision and medical information of the applicant. If no response is received by the department, the department shall accept the vision and medical information provided for processing the renewal application.