RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 137 (HB 317) 2020 Regular Session Thompson
New law authorizes an applicant for a driver's license who has autism spectrum disorder to
request a designation and requires that the designation be placed on his driver's license.
New 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.
New 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.
New law specifies that the qualified medical or mental health professional must be
authorized to diagnose autism spectrum disorder.
New law specifies that any person who willfully and falsely represents himself as having the
qualifications to obtain the special designation authorized by new law be fined not less than
$100 nor more than $250, 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,
imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both.
New 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 existing law.
New 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.
New 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.
New law authorizes the deputy secretary of the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections to
promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of new law. Provides rule
oversight authority to the House and Senate committees on transportation, highways and
public works.
Effective Aug. 1, 2020.
(Amends R.S. 32:412(Section heading) and (P); Adds R.S. 32:412(Q))