SSHB516 4468 3770
HOUSE SUMMARY OF SENATE AMENDMENTS
HB 516 2023 Regular Session Kerner
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
Synopsis of Senate Amendments
1.Makes technical changes.
2.Adds persons with any mental, physical, or developmental disability to those
eligible for special identification decals.
3.Removes the provision that the sticker or decal offered at registration be in
compliance with present law (R.S. 47:505).
4.Removes the option for the sticker or decal to be placed on the windshield or
license plate and instead only authorizes placement on the rear window of the
vehicle.
5.Clarifies that the sticker or decal placed on the rear window of windshield be
viewed only from the outside of the vehicle in a space that does not interfere
with the visibility of the operator of the motor vehicle.
6.Adds a provision that authorizes the office of motor vehicles of the Department
of Public Safety and Corrections to issue an identification sticker or decal which
should be "an orange square" at no cost for those meeting the requirements for
the special identification decals. Specifies that the same stipulations will apply
as to the special identification decals. In addition, requires a flag code be
created to be placed on the registration of a motor vehicle which will indicate
that driver of the vehicle has a mental, physical, or developmental disability or
is the parent, guardian, or caregiver of such person.
Digest of Bill as Finally Passed by Senate
Present law (R.S. 32:403.3) authorizes the office of motor vehicles within the Dept. of Public
Safety and Corrections (the office) to issue identification stickers or decals to the deaf and
hard of hearing, and to place a flag code on the person's vehicle registration upon
presentation of a statement indicating a hearing loss attested by a physician, audiologist, or
speech pathologist. Further provides that the sticker or decal shall be offered and imprinted
on the back of the driver's license under lamination.
Proposed law retains present law, except to remove the requirement that the sticker or decal
must be offered and imprinted on the back of the driver's license under lamination.
Proposed law specifies that if the user applies the sticker or decal to the rear windshield, it
must be placed in a space that does not interfere with the visibility of the vehicle operator.
Present law (R.S. 32:412(P)) provides that upon request of an applicant for a driver's license,
a designation that the applicant has autism spectrum disorder or any mental, physical or
developmental disability shall be exhibited on the driver's license upon presentation of a
statement from a qualified medical or mental health professional.
Proposed law retains present law and further authorizes the office to issue identification
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stickers or decals for a person who has obtained the autism spectrum disorder or any mental,
physical or developmental disability designation in accordance with present law or his parent,
legal guardian, or other caregiver and to place a flag code on the person's vehicle registration
upon presentation of a statement indicating the disability of the person attested by a
physician, mental health professional, or occupational therapist.
Proposed law provides that the documentation submitted as proof that an individual is deaf,
hard of hearing, or diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or any mental, physical or
developmental disability is not subject to disclosure pursuant to the Public Records Law and
any person seeking such documentation must obtain a court order after a contradictory
hearing against the applicant.
(Amends R.S. 32:403.3 and R.S. 44:4.1(B)(19))
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