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 Reengrossed 2020 Regular Session Thompson Abstract: Establishes an autism spectrum disorder designation for a person's driver's license. Proposed law authorizes an applicant for a driver's license who has autism spectrum disorder to request a designation and requires the designation to be placed on his driver's license. Proposed law requires the applicant to provide a sworn statement from a qualified medical or mental health 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 spectrum disorder to provide a statement from a qualified medical or mental health 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 the qualified medical or mental health professional must be authorized to diagnose autism spectrum disorder. Proposed law specifies that any person who willfully 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' interactions with persons who have autism spectrum disorder, in addition to the requirements of present law. Proposed law requires the course to instruct law enforcement officers on sensitivity and awareness to ensure equitable treatment and how to effectively communicate and interact with persons who have autism spectrum disorder. Proposed law requires the course to include identification of indicators that a person has autism spectrum disorder; identification of procedures that an officer should employ when encountering a person who has autism spectrum disorder; demonstrations of communication and interactive techniques required to effectively interact with a person who has autism spectrum disorder; explanations that provide law enforcement officers with an understanding of developmental disabilities and examples of unexpected actions potentially taken by persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder; explanations of the resources available to assist an officer encountering a person who has autism spectrum disorder; 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 spectrum disorder. 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)) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works to the original bill: 1. Make technical changes. The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill: 1. Change "autism" to "autism spectrum disorder" throughout the bill. 2. Clarify that the verifying statement provided by an applicant to receive the special designation may come from a medical or mental health professional and require the medical or mental health professional be qualified to diagnose autism spectrum disorder.