This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h0341.TMS
DATE: 1/29/2024
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: HB 341 Designation of a Diagnosis on Motor Vehicle Registrations
SPONSOR(S): Salzman
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 288
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Transportation & Modals Subcommittee Walker Hinshelwood
2) Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations
Subcommittee
3) Infrastructure Strategies Committee
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
Every owner or person in charge of a motor vehicle that is operated or driven on the roads of Florida must
register the vehicle in the state. The owner or person in charge must apply to the Department of Highway
Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) or to its authorized agent for registration of each such vehicle on a form
prescribed by the DHSMV.
The application for registration must include the street address of the owner’s permanent residence or the
address of his or her permanent place of business and be accompanied by personal or business identification
information. An individual applicant must provide a valid driver license or identification card issued by this state
or another state or a valid passport. A business applicant must provide a federal employer identification
number, if applicable, or verification that the business is authorized to conduct business in the state, or a
Florida municipal or county business license or number.
Additionally, DHSMV must include certain language on the application form such as, but not limited to,
language allowing an applicant who is deaf or hard of hearing to voluntarily indicate that he or she is deaf or
hard of hearing. If the applicant indicates on the application that he or she is deaf or hard of hearing, such
information must be included through the Driver and Vehicle Information Database and available through the
Florida Crime Information Center system.
The bill provides legislative intent and provides that the act may be cited as the “Safeguarding American
Families Everywhere (SAFE) Act. The bill provides that upon presentation of proof acceptable to the DHSMV,
a motor vehicle owner or registrant may designate on his or her application form for motor vehicle registration
that the owner or registrant has been diagnosed with, or is the parent or legal guardian of a child or ward who
has been diagnosed with, a developmental disability or psychiatric disorder by a physician licensed under
chapter 458 or chapter 459. Such designation may be removed at any time upon request of the owner or
registrant.
The bill will have a negative fiscal impact on state government.
The bill has an effective date of July 1, 2024. STORAGE NAME: h0341.TMS PAGE: 2
DATE: 1/29/2024
FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Current Situation
Motor Vehicle Registration Application
Every owner or person in charge of a motor vehicle that is operated or driven on the roads of Florida
must register the vehicle in the state. The owner or person in charge must apply to the Department of
Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) or to its authorized agent for registration of each such
vehicle on a form prescribed by the DHSMV.
1
The application for registration must include the street address of the owner’s permanent residence or
the address of his or her permanent place of business and be accompanied by personal or business
identification information. An individual applicant must provide a valid driver license or identification
card issued by this state or another state or a valid passport. A business applicant must provide a
federal employer identification number, if applicable, or verification that the business is authorized to
conduct business in the state, or a Florida municipal or county business license or number.
2
Additionally, DHSMV must include certain language on the application form such as, but not limited to,
language allowing an applicant who is deaf or hard of hearing to voluntarily indicate that he or she is
deaf or hard of hearing. If the applicant indicates on the application that he or she is deaf or hard of
hearing, such information must be included through the Driver and Vehicle Information Database and
available through the Florida Crime Information Center system.
3
The SAFE Program
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office created and operates the SAFE Program with the intent to
protect Santa Rosa County’s special needs community and any person who may not respond as
expected in an emergency situation.
4
The SAFE Program allows families to voluntarily fill out a form to
enroll their loved ones in the program. Once the information from the form is received from a family or
individual, the dispatchers enter the details into their local communication system. The information is
then securely shared with other first responders in the community. After enrollment in the program, a
family will be mailed complimentary decals to place at the entrance of their home and on the rear
window of their vehicles if they so choose. The decal is an immediate signal to all Santa Rosa’s first
responders that the family’s situation is different and that there is extra information available to keep
everyone safe. The decal indicates for first responders to handle the situation with a little extra care.
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Effect of the Bill
The bill provides legislative intent and provides that the act may be cited as the “Safeguarding
American Families Everywhere (SAFE) Act. The bill provides that upon presentation of proof
acceptable to the DHSMV, a motor vehicle owner or registrant may designate on his or her application
form for motor vehicle registration that the owner or registrant has been diagnosed with, or is the parent
or legal guardian of a child or ward who has been diagnosed with, a developmental disability or
1
S. 320.02(1), F.S.
2
S. 320.02(2)(a), F.S.
3
S. 320.02(14), F.S.
4
Certain law enforcement data has suggested that individuals with special needs are seven times more likely to have law
enforcement encounters than the general population. Moreover, studies have suggested that there needs to be better
preparation of law enforcement and the special needs community to understand these interactions and to improve the
safety of everyone involved in emergency situations. Autism Speaks, How better understanding can support better
outcomes in police interactions with autistics, (Dec. 23, 2020), https://www.autismspeaks.org/science-news/how-better-
understanding-can-support-better-outcomes-police-interactions-autistics (last visited Jan. 29, 2024).
5
Santa Rosa Sheriff Office, SAFE Program, https://santarosasheriff.org/safe-program/ (last visited Jan. 29, 2024). STORAGE NAME: h0341.TMS PAGE: 3
DATE: 1/29/2024
psychiatric disorder by a physician licensed under ch. 458, F.S.,
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or ch. 459, F.S.
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Such designation
may be removed at any time upon request of the owner or registrant.
The bill has an effective date of July 1, 2024.
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1 Provides that the act may be cited as the “Safeguarding American Families Everywhere
(SAFE) Act.”
Section 2 Amends s. 320.02, F.S., relating to registration required; application for registration;
forms.
Section 3 Amends s. 320.27, F.S., relating to motor vehicle dealers.
Section 4 Provides an effective date of July 1, 2024.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
See “Fiscal Comments” section below.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
None.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
The bill will have an insignificant, negative fiscal impact on the DHSMV, as DHSMV will need to make
changes to its motor vehicle registration application and enter the new information in the Driver and
Vehicle Information Database and the Florida Criminal Information Center. Additionally, MyDMV Portal
will need to be updated. DHSMV estimates that the bill will cost $33,120 for such programming and
implementation.
8
6
Ch. 458, F.S, relates to medical practice. A physician is defined as a person who is licensed to practice medicine in this
state.
7
Ch. 459, F.S., relates to Osteopathic Medicine. General licensure requirements for a person desiring to be licensed or
certified as an osteopathic physician are found in s. 459.0055, F.S.
8
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Agency Analysis of 2024 HB 341, pp. 4-5 (Dec. 14, 2023). STORAGE NAME: h0341.TMS PAGE: 4
DATE: 1/29/2024
III. COMMENTS
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:
1. Applicability of Municipality/County Mandates Provision:
Not applicable. This bill does not appear to affect county or municipal governments.
2. Other:
None.
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY:
Rulemaking may be necessary in order to conform to changes made by the bill.
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS:
None.
IV. AMENDMENTS/COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES
N/A