The elimination of this fee aligns with existing practices where the division of motor vehicles does not impose the fee due to the stipulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). By officially removing the fee from the statute, the state reinforces its commitment to supporting individuals with disabilities. There will be no fiscal impact as the current processing fee has not been enforced, thus maintaining accessibility for disabled applicants.
Summary
House Bill 1214 aims to eliminate the $5 fee associated with applying for walking disability placards in New Hampshire. Currently, applicants must pay a fee for the issuance of these placards, which are intended to assist individuals with walking disabilities by allowing them to utilize designated parking spaces and other transportation-related advantages. The bill intends to alleviate this financial burden on applicants, making it easier for individuals in need to obtain necessary mobility assistance.
Contention
While the bill generally speaks to improving access for persons with walking disabilities, it does not appear to have faced significant opposition or contention during its deliberation. The focus remains predominantly on ensuring that those who require mobility assistance are not hindered by administrative costs. The simplicity of the bill suggests it has broad potential support, focusing solely on removing a small barrier that may affect service accessibility.
Specifies that certain applicants for disabled license plates or windshield placards shall not be required to provide physician's statements for issuance or renewal of the plates or placards
Adds licensed occupational therapists to the definition of "other authorized health care practitioner" for purposes of physician's statements required for disabled license plates and placards