| 1 | 1 | | 89R4761 MZM-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Martinez H.B. No. 2096 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to the notification of a peace officer through an |
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| 10 | 10 | | indication associated with vehicle registration that a person has a |
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| 11 | 11 | | health condition or disability that may impede effective |
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| 12 | 12 | | communication. |
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| 13 | 13 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 14 | 14 | | SECTION 1. Section 502.061, Transportation Code, is amended |
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| 15 | 15 | | by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to |
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| 16 | 16 | | read as follows: |
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| 17 | 17 | | (a) An application for registration must provide space for |
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| 18 | 18 | | the applicant to voluntarily indicate that the applicant has a |
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| 19 | 19 | | health condition or disability that may impede effective |
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| 20 | 20 | | communication with a peace officer. The department may request |
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| 21 | 21 | | from a person who makes an indication under this subsection |
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| 22 | 22 | | verification of a condition in the form of a written statement from, |
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| 23 | 23 | | as appropriate for the person's condition or disability, a [: |
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| 24 | 24 | | [(1) for a physical health condition, a written |
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| 25 | 25 | | statement from a] licensed physician, [; or |
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| 26 | 26 | | [(2) for a mental health condition, a written |
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| 27 | 27 | | statement from a licensed physician, a] licensed psychologist, [or |
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| 28 | 28 | | a] non-physician mental health professional, as defined by Section |
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| 29 | 29 | | 571.003, Health and Safety Code, speech-language pathologist, |
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| 30 | 30 | | occupational therapist, audiologist, school psychologist, or other |
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| 31 | 31 | | health care provider. |
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| 32 | 32 | | (b) For each person who voluntarily indicated on an |
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| 33 | 33 | | application under Subsection (a) that the person has a health |
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| 34 | 34 | | condition or disability that may impede effective communication, |
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| 35 | 35 | | the [The] department shall: |
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| 36 | 36 | | (1) provide to the Department of Public Safety the |
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| 37 | 37 | | vehicle registration information of the person; and |
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| 38 | 38 | | (2) inform the Department of Public Safety whether the |
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| 39 | 39 | | person's health condition or disability is categorized as: |
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| 40 | 40 | | (A) a speech or language impairment; |
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| 41 | 41 | | (B) a hearing impairment; or |
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| 42 | 42 | | (C) autism spectrum disorder. |
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| 43 | 43 | | (b-1) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the [a person |
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| 44 | 44 | | who voluntarily indicated on an application under Subsection (a) |
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| 45 | 45 | | that the person has a health condition or disability that may impede |
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| 46 | 46 | | effective communication. The] department may not provide to the |
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| 47 | 47 | | Department of Public Safety information that shows the type of |
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| 48 | 48 | | health condition or disability a person has. |
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| 49 | 49 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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