RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 172 (HB 516) 2023 Regular Session Kerner
Existing 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. Prior law provided that the sticker or decal must be offered and
imprinted on the back of the driver's license under lamination.
New law removes the requirement that the sticker or decal must be offered and imprinted on
the back of the driver's license under lamination.
New 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.
Existing 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.
New law retains existing law and further authorizes the office to issue identification stickers
or decals for a person who has obtained the autism spectrum disorder or any mental, physical
or developmental disability designation in accordance with existing 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.
New 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))
Effective August 1, 2023.