DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 317 Original 2020 Regular Session Thompson
Abstract: Establishes an autism designation for a person's driver's license.
Proposed law authorizes an applicant for a driver's license who has autism to request a designation
and requires the designation be placed on his driver's license.
Proposed law requires the applicant provide a sworn statement from a qualified medical professional
licensed in La. or any U.S. state or territory verifying his disability and prohibits any additional fee
for the designation.
Proposed law requires a driver who has autism to provide a statement from a qualified medical
professional licensed in La. or any other U.S. state or territory verifying the disability upon the
renewal of his driver's license.
Proposed law specifies that any person who wilfully and falsely represents himself as having the
qualifications to obtain the special designation authorized by proposed law be fined not less than
$100 nor more than $250, or be imprisoned for not more than 30 days, or both. Specifies that a
subsequent offense will result in a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $500, or imprisonment
for not more than 90 days, or both.
Proposed law requires the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, public safety services, to establish
and implement a law enforcement training course relative to law enforcement officers' interaction
with persons who have autism, in addition to the requirements of present law.
Proposed law requires the course instruct law enforcement officers on sensitivity and awareness to
ensure equitable treatment and how to effectively communicate and interact with persons who have
autism.
Proposed law requires the course include identification of indicators that an individual has autism;
identification of procedures that an officer should employ when encountering a person who has
autism; demonstrations of communication and interactive techniques required to effectively interact
with a person who has autism; explanations that provide law enforcement officers with an
understanding of developmental disabilities and examples of unexpected actions potentially taken
by persons diagnosed with autism; explanations of the resources available to assist an officer
encountering a person who has autism; and descriptions of the procedures an officer should use to
ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act when encountering a person who has
autism. Proposed law authorizes the deputy secretary of the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections to
promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of proposed law. Provides rule
oversight authority to the House and Senate committees on transportation, highways and public
works.
(Amends R.S. 32:412(Section heading) and (P); Adds R.S. 32:412(Q))