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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 995
January Session, 2023
LCO No. 3996
Referred to Committee on TRANSPORTATION
Introduced by:
(TRA)
AN ACT CONCERNING REMOVABLE WINDSHIELD PLACARDS FOR
PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 14-253a of the general statutes is 1
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2
1, 2023): 3
(a) For the purposes of this section: 4
(1) "Special license plate" means a license plate displaying the symbol 5
of access in a size identical to that of the letters or numerals on the plate 6
and in a color that contrasts with the background color of the plate; 7
(2) "Removable windshield placard" means a two-sided, hanger-style 8
placard which bears on both of its sides: (A) The symbol of access in a 9
height of three inches or more centered on such placard and colored 10
white on a blue background; (B) a unique identification number; (C) a 11
date of expiration; [and] (D) a statement indicating that the Connecticut 12
Department of Motor Vehicles issued such placard; and (E) the words 13
"Accessibility Parking Permit"; 14 Raised Bill No. 995
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(3) "Temporary removable windshield placard" means a placard that 15
is the same as a removable windshield placard except that the symbol 16
of access appears on a red background; 17
(4) "Person with disabilities" means a person with disabilities which 18
limit or impair the ability to walk, as defined in 23 CFR Section 1235.2; 19
and 20
(5) "Symbol of access" means the symbol designated by the 21
Commissioner of Administrative Services pursuant to section 29-269b 22
used to indicate access for persons with disabilities. 23
Sec. 2. Subsection (d) of section 14-253a of the general statutes is 24
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 25
1, 2023): 26
(d) (1) Any placard issued pursuant to this section shall be displayed 27
by hanging it from the front windshield rearview mirror of the vehicle 28
when utilizing a parking space reserved for persons who are blind and 29
persons with disabilities. If there is no rearview mirror in such vehicle, 30
the placard shall be displayed in clear view on the dashboard of such 31
vehicle. 32
(2) On and after October 1, 2023, any placard issued pursuant to this 33
section shall not bear the words "parking permit for persons with 34
disabilities". Any placard issued prior to October 1, 2023, that is 35
otherwise valid, shall remain valid, according to its terms until the 36
expiration of such placard. 37
Sec. 3. Subsection (o) of section 14-253a of the general statutes is 38
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 39
1, 2023): 40
(o) The commissioner shall [periodically] check the Department of 41
Public Health's state registration of deaths at least twice a year and shall 42
cancel any placard issued to an individual identified in such registry as 43
deceased. 44 Raised Bill No. 995
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Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a 45
Removable Windshield Placard Advisory Council that shall be within 46
the Department of Motor Vehicles for administrative purposes only. The 47
advisory council shall, at least annually, (1) review the laws in other 48
states concerning the issuance and use of removable windshield 49
placards for persons who are blind and persons with disabilities, (2) 50
recommend best practices to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles for 51
clear and concise policies and regulations regarding the issuance and 52
use of removable windshield placards pursuant to section 14-253a of the 53
general statutes, and (3) make educational materials available to 54
medical professionals, law enforcement officers and the general public 55
regarding the proper issuance and use of such removable windshield 56
placards. 57
(b) The advisory council shall consist of nine members, appointed as 58
follows: (1) Five appointed by the Governor; (2) one jointly appointed 59
by the speaker and majority leader of the House of Representatives; (3) 60
one jointly appointed by the president pro tempore and majority leader 61
of the Senate; (4) one appointed by the minority leader of the House of 62
Representatives; and (5) one appointed by the minority leader of the 63
Senate. 64
(c) All initial appointments to the advisory council shall be made not 65
later than August 1, 2023. The term of each member of the advisory 66
council shall be two years. Any vacancy shall be filled for the remainder 67
of the term in the same manner as the original appointment. 68
(d) The Governor shall designate the chairperson of the advisory 69
council from among the members. The advisory council shall meet at 70
least annually and at such other times as the chairperson deems 71
necessary or upon the request of a majority of the members. Members 72
shall serve without compensation. 73
(e) On or before January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the advisory 74
council shall submit a report on its activities and any recommendations 75
to the Governor and the joint standing committee of the General 76 Raised Bill No. 995
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Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation, in 77
accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 78
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2023 14-253a(a)
Sec. 2 October 1, 2023 14-253a(d)
Sec. 3 October 1, 2023 14-253a(o)
Sec. 4 from passage New section
Statement of Purpose:
To (1) require a removable windshield placard to bear the words
"Accessibility Parking Permit", (2) require the Commissioner of Motor
Vehicles to check the state registration of deaths twice a year, and (3)
establish a Removable Windshield Placard Advisory Council.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]