Bill Text: CA SB981 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Disabled person and disabled veteran license plates.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-18 - To Com. on RLS. [SB981 Detail]
Download: California-2009-SB981-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 981 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Senator Hollingsworth
FEBRUARY 8, 2010
An act to amend Section 5007 of the Vehicle Code, relating to
vehicles.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 981, as introduced, Hollingsworth. Disabled person and disabled
veteran license plates.
Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles, upon
application and without additional fees, to issue a special license
plate or plates to a disabled person, disabled veteran, or an
organization or agency involved in the transportation of disabled
persons or veterans, as specified, in accordance with procedures
adopted by the department.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to this
law.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 5007 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
5007. (a) The department shall, upon application and without
additional fees, issue a special license plate or plates pursuant to
procedures adopted by the department to the following:
(1) A disabled person.
(2) A disabled veteran.
(3) An organization or agency involved in the transportation of
disabled persons or disabled veterans if the vehicle that will have
the special license plate is used solely for the purpose of
transporting those persons.
(b) The special license plates issued under subdivision (a) shall
run in a regular numerical series that shall include one or more
unique two-letter codes reserved for disabled person license plates
or disabled veteran license plates. The International Symbol of
Access adopted pursuant to Section 3 of Public Law 100-641, commonly
known as the "wheelchair symbol" shall be depicted on each plate.
(c) (1) Prior to Before issuing a
special license plate to a disabled person or disabled veteran, the
department shall require the submission of a certificate, in
accordance with paragraph (2), signed by the physician and surgeon,
or to the extent that it does not cause a reduction in the receipt of
federal aid highway funds, by a nurse practitioner, certified nurse
midwife, or physician assistant, substantiating the disability,
unless the applicant's disability is readily observable and
uncontested. The disability of a person who has lost, or has lost use
of, one or more lower extremities or one hand, for a disabled
veteran, or both hands for a disabled person, or who has significant
limitation in the use of lower extremities, may also be certified by
a licensed chiropractor. The blindness of an applicant shall be
certified by a licensed physician and surgeon who specializes in
diseases of the eye or a licensed optometrist. The physician and
surgeon, nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, physician
assistant, chiropractor, or optometrist certifying the qualifying
disability shall provide a full description of the illness or
disability on the form submitted to the department.
(2) The physician and surgeon, nurse practitioner, certified nurse
midwife, physician assistant, chiropractor, or optometrist who signs
a certificate submitted under this subdivision shall retain
information sufficient to substantiate that certificate and, upon
request of the department, shall make that information available for
inspection by the Medical Board of California or the appropriate
regulatory board.
(d) A disabled person or disabled veteran issued a license plate
or plates under this section shall, upon request, present to a peace
officer, or person authorized to enforce parking laws, ordinances, or
regulations, a certification form that substantiates the eligibility
of the disabled person or veteran to possess the plate or plates.
The certification shall be on a form prescribed by the department and
contain the name of the disabled person or disabled veteran to whom
the plate or plates were issued, and the name, address, and telephone
number of the medical professional described in subdivision (c) who
certified the eligibility of the person or veteran for the plate or
plates.
(e) The certification requirements of subdivisions (c) and (d) do
not apply to an organization or agency that is issued a special
license plate or plates under paragraph (3) of subdivision (a).
(f) The special license plate shall, upon the death of the
disabled person or disabled veteran, be returned to the department
within 60 days or upon the expiration of the vehicle registration,
whichever occurs first.
(g) When a vehicle subject to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) is
sold or transferred, the special license plate or plates issued to an
organization or agency under paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) for
that vehicle shall be immediately returned to the department.
