HLS 22RS-537 ENGROSSED
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 337
BY REPRESENTATIVES HILFERTY, CORMIER, EDMONSTON, LARVADAIN,
ROBERT OWEN, SCHAMERHORN, SELDERS, AND WRIGHT
MOTOR VEHICLES: Establishes a special identification card designation for persons with
autism spectrum disorder
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 40:1321(S) and to enact R.S. 40:1321(T), relative to a special
3 identification card designation for persons with autism spectrum disorder; to provide
4 for the establishment of an autism spectrum disorder designation on a special
5 identification card; to provide for the criteria for obtaining an autism spectrum
6 disorder designation for new applicants or renewals; to provide penalties for persons
7 making false statements to obtain special designation; to require the implementation
8 of a law enforcement officer training course; to provide for the promulgation of rules
9 and regulations; and to provide for related matters.
10Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. R.S. 40:1321(S) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 40:1321(T)
12is hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 ยง1321. Special identification cards; issuance; veteran designation; disabled veteran
14 designation; university logo; "I'm a Cajun" designation; needs
15 accommodation designation; autism spectrum disorder designation; fees;
16 expiration and renewal; exceptions; promulgation of rules; promotion of use;
17 persons less than twenty-one years of age; the Protect and Save our Children
18 Program; Selective Service Registration
19 * * *
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HB NO. 337
1 S.(1) Upon request of a special identification card, a designation that the
2 applicant has autism spectrum disorder shall be exhibited on the special
3 identification card upon presentation of a statement from a qualified medical or
4 mental health professional licensed in Louisiana or any other state or territory of the
5 United States verifying the applicant's disability as established by administrative
6 rule. The qualified medical or mental health professional shall be authorized to
7 diagnose autism spectrum disorder. No additional fee shall be charged to include
8 such designation.
9 (2) Upon the renewal of a special identification card, an applicant who has
10 autism spectrum disorder shall provide a statement from a qualified medical or
11 mental health professional licensed in Louisiana or any other state or territory of the
12 United States verifying the applicant's disability as established by administrative
13 rule.
14 (3) Any person who has not been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder
15 who willfully and falsely represents himself as having the qualifications to obtain the
16 special designation authorized by this Subsection shall be fined not less than one
17 hundred dollars nor more than two hundred fifty dollars, or shall be imprisoned for
18 not more than thirty days, or both. Any subsequent offense shall result in a fine of
19 not less than two hundred fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, or
20 imprisonment for not more than ninety days, or both.
21 (4) In addition to the training requirements contained in R.S. 40:2404.2(C),
22 the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, public safety services, shall
23 establish and implement a law enforcement training course relative to law
24 enforcement officers' interaction with persons who have autism spectrum disorder.
25 The course shall instruct law enforcement officers on sensitivity and awareness to
26 ensure equitable treatment and how to effectively communicate and interact with
27 persons with autism spectrum disorder. At a minimum, the course shall include the
28 following:
29 (a) Identification of indicators that a person has autism spectrum disorder.
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HB NO. 337
1 (b) Identification of procedures that an officer should employ when
2 encountering a person with autism spectrum disorder.
3 (c) Demonstrations of communication and interactive techniques required
4 to effectively interact with a person with autism spectrum disorder.
5 (d) Explanations that provide law enforcement officers with an
6 understanding of the developmental disability and examples of unexpected actions
7 potentially taken by persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
8 (e) Explanations of the resources available to assist an officer encountering
9 a person who has autism spectrum disorder.
10 (f) Descriptions of the procedures an officer should use to ensure compliance
11 with the Americans with Disabilities Act when encountering a person with autism
12 spectrum disorder.
13 (5) The deputy secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections,
14 public safety services, shall promulgate rules and regulations as necessary to
15 implement the provisions of this Subsection, including a waiver of liability for the
16 release of any medical information. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S.
17 49:968(B)(12), the House and Senate committees on transportation, highways and
18 public works shall have oversight of the adoption of rules and regulations required
19 by this Subsection.
20 T. No fee shall be charged for transactions to issue a duplicate special
21 identification card to correct an address due to the renaming of a street or highway
22 in accordance with a parish or municipal ordinance.
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 337 Engrossed 2022 Regular Session Hilferty
Abstract: Creates an autism spectrum disorder designation for a special identification card.
Proposed law establishes the application process for obtaining an autism spectrum disorder
designation on a special identification card for new applicants and renewals.
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HB NO. 337
Proposed law requires an autism spectrum disorder designation be displayed on a special
identification card upon receipt of a statement from a qualified medical or mental health
professional licensed in La. or any other state or territory of the U.S. verifying the applicant's
disability as established by administrative rule. Further requires the qualified medical or
mental health professional be authorized to diagnose autism spectrum disorder.
Proposed law specifies that no additional fee can be charged to include an autism spectrum
disorder designation.
Proposed law specifies that any person who has not been diagnosed with autism spectrum
disorder who makes a false statement of having the qualification to obtain the special
designation will be fined not less than $100 nor more than $250, or be imprisoned for not
more than 30 days, or both. Further, requires any subsequent offense carry 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.
Proposed law requires the course include identification of indicators that a person 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. 40:1321(S); Adds R.S. 40:1321(T))
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