By: Hughes, et al. S.B. No. 976
(Martinez)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the notification of a peace officer through an
indication associated with vehicle registration that a person has a
health condition or disability that may impede effective
communication.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 502.061 to read as follows:
Sec. 502.061. REGISTRATION BY OWNER WITH CONDITION THAT
IMPEDES EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION. (a) An application for
registration must provide space for the applicant to voluntarily
indicate that the applicant has a health condition or disability
that may impede effective communication with a peace officer. The
department may request from a person who makes an indication under
this subsection verification of a condition in the form of:
(1) for a physical health condition, a written
statement from a licensed physician; or
(2) for a mental health condition, a written statement
from a licensed physician, a licensed psychologist, or a
non-physician mental health professional, as defined by Section
571.003, Health and Safety Code.
(b) The department shall provide to the Department of Public
Safety the vehicle registration information of a person who
voluntarily indicated on an application under Subsection (a) that
the person has a health condition or disability that may impede
effective communication. The department may not provide to the
Department of Public Safety information that shows the type of
health condition or disability a person has.
(c) The Department of Public Safety shall establish a system
to include information received under Subsection (b) in the Texas
Law Enforcement Telecommunications System for the purpose of
alerting a peace officer who makes a traffic stop that the operator
of the stopped vehicle may have a health condition or disability
that may impede effective communication.
(d) The Department of Public Safety may not make information
received under Subsection (b) available in the Texas Law
Enforcement Telecommunications System to a person who has access to
the system under a contract unless the contract prohibits the
person from disclosing that information to a person who is not
subject to the contract.
(e) The department may not issue to a person without the
person's consent a license plate with a visible marking that
indicates to the general public that the person voluntarily
indicated on an application under Subsection (a) that the person
has a health condition or disability that may impede effective
communication.
(f) Except as provided by Subsection (d), information
supplied to the department relating to an applicant's health
condition or disability is for the confidential use of the
department and the Department of Public Safety and may not be
disclosed to any person.
SECTION 2. A Department of Public Safety contract that
allows a person to access the Texas Law Enforcement
Telecommunications System and that is in effect before the
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the
date on which the contract was entered into, and that law is
continued in effect for that purpose, except that the contract:
(1) continues only for the term of the contract; and
(2) may not be renewed unless the renewed contract
includes the prohibition required by Section 502.061(d),
Transportation Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.