HLS 23RS-367 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 516
BY REPRESENTATIVE KERNER
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
MOTOR VEHICLES: Provides for placement of a special identification sticker or decal on
a motor vehicle operated by a person with autism spectrum disorder or their guardian
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 32:403.3, relative to special identification decals applicable to
3 persons with autism spectrum disorder or their guardian; to provide for the creation
4 of an autism spectrum disorder designation sticker or decal for placement on the rear
5 window of a vehicle; to provide awareness to officers that there is a person with
6 autism spectrum disorder in the vehicle; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 32:403.3 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 ยง403.3. Identification stickers for the deaf and hard of hearing or persons with
10 autism spectrum disorder or their guardian; license label
11 A. The office of motor vehicles of the Department of Public Safety and
12 Corrections is hereby authorized to issue an identification sticker or decal which
13 shall be the international symbol of deafness and the awareness symbol for Autism
14 at no cost for use by deaf and hard of hearing persons or persons with autism
15 spectrum disorder or their guardian who are granted a driver's license. Every deaf
16 or hard of hearing person or person with autism spectrum disorder or their guardian
17 applying for a driver's license or rear window with an identification decal or sticker
18 shall attach to the application a statement proof indicating a hearing loss or verifying
19 the applicant's disability attested by one of the following: a medical physician,
20 audiologist, or speech pathologist, or mental health professional. The sticker or
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 23RS-367 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 516
1 decal is to be offered at the time the driver's license is issued or when a registration,
2 in compliance with R.S. 47:505, is issued and shall be prepared so that it may at the
3 option of the user be applied to the windshield and viewed from the outside of the
4 vehicle or on the license plate, or both in a space that does not interfere with the
5 visibility of the driver or guardian. The same sticker or decal identifying the licensee
6 as deaf or hard of hearing or a person with autism spectrum disorder, or their
7 guardian shall be offered and imprinted on the back of the driver's license under the
8 lamination.
9 B. In addition to the identification sticker or decal provided for in Subsection
10 A of this Section, the office of motor vehicles of the Department of Public Safety and
11 Corrections shall create a flag code to be placed on the registration of a motor
12 vehicle which shall indicate that the driver of the vehicle is deaf or hard of hearing
13 or a person with autism spectrum disorder or their guardian. Upon the initial
14 application for or renewal of the registration of a motor vehicle, the flag will be
15 placed on the registration at the driver's request at no additional cost, provided he
16 produces a statement indicating a hearing loss or disability attested by one of the
17 following: a qualified medical physician, audiologist, or speech pathologist, or a
18 mental health professional. The secretary shall adopt rules and regulations in
19 accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act as are necessary to implement the
20 provisions of this Subsection.
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 516 Original 2023 Regular Session Kerner
Abstract: Authorizes special identification stickers or decals for persons with autism
spectrum disorder or their guardian to inform law enforcement that there is a person with this
disorder in the vehicle and to respond accordingly.
Present law provides for identification stickers or decals for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Proposed law adds persons with autism spectrum disorder and their guardian to be included
in present law and specifies that this particular identification sticker or decal would be
placed on the rear window.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 23RS-367 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 516
Present law specifies that the sticker or decal is to be offered when the driver's license is
issued and the person has the option of it being applied to the windshield.
Proposed law requires the decal be placed in a space that does not interfere with the visibility
of the driver.
Present law requires that persons applying for this sticker or decal attach a statement to the
application indicating a hearing loss attested by one of the following: a medical physician,
audiologists, or speech pathologist.
Proposed law modifies present law by requiring proof instead of a statement indicating a
hearing loss. Also, specifies that medical and communication professionals must be
qualified and adds mental health professional to the list. Further, specifies the guardian of
a person with a autism spectrum disorder can follow the same steps in providing proof of
statement of the disability.
(Amends R.S. 32:403.3)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.