Repeat drunken-driving offenders who are taking part in a state drug court program would get limited driving privileges under a measure endorsed by a legislative panel.

The bill would allow the state Transportation Department to issue conditional licenses to North Dakotans with multiple drunken driving infractions, if they are in a drug court and have stayed out of trouble for a year.

Under current law, those offenders would have to wait two years to get a restricted permit to drive to work.

Drug courts are an alternative to jail for some nonviolent drug and alcohol offenders. North Dakota has adult drug-court programs in Bismarck and Fargo.

Drug court participants are required to attend school, work full-time or perform community service, but those with drunken driving convictions have trouble getting around because they've lost their license, said Rep. Ron Carlisle, R-Bismarck.

"We're trying to get some of the folks who are in the court a chance to get to work and back," said Carlisle, one of the bill's sponsors.

South Central District Judge Bruce Haskell, who oversees Bismarck's drug court, told lawmakers that an offender who misbehaves could have the license revoked.

"It's not just a carte blanche license," he said.

The drug court typically doesn't accept people for drunken driving convictions until the person has several on their record, said Keith Magnusson, the Transportation Department's driver licensing director. At that point, federal rules mandate a minimum one-year license suspension, Magnusson said.

State law doesn't allow repeat offenders to get a limited driving permit unless they keep a clean record for two years, and submit a report from a treatment program. The offender also must submit references who can affirm that the person has not driven a vehicle during that time, Magnusson said.

After a hearing Thursday, the committee recommended that the full House approve the bill.

Rep. Ron Iverson, R-Fargo, said drug-court programs keep a close eye on offenders, and those who follow the rules are not necessarily getting an easier punishment.

"These are people who have screwed their lives up and realize it, and are trying to clean their lives up," he said.

Rep. Dan Ruby, R-Minot, cast the only vote against the bill. Ruby said he believed some drug court participants already have missed opportunities to correct their ways.

"In some cases, people have had time after time after time of chances," he said.

Ruby has introduced two separate measures to tighten restrictions on drunken drivers.