SF 2221 (LSB 5873XS (2) 85)

SENATE FILE 2221

BY  CHELGREN

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for the issuance of special disabled veteran vehicle registration plates to certain disabled veterans who qualify for a persons with disabilities parking permit.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.34, Code 2014, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  14A.  Disabled veteran plates.  An owner referred to in subsection 12, or an owner of a trailer used to transport a wheelchair, who is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States and, due to a service-connected disability, is a person with a disability as defined in section 321L.1 may, upon written application to the department, order special registration plates with a disabled veteran processed emblem. The processed emblem shall be designed by the department in consultation with the adjutant general. The special registration plates with a disabled veteran processed emblem shall only be issued if the application is accompanied by documentation identifying the person as a disabled veteran with a service-connected disability along with a statement from a physician licensed under chapter 148 or 149, a physician assistant licensed under chapter 148C, an advanced registered nurse practitioner licensed under chapter 152, or a chiropractor licensed under chapter 151, written on the physician’s, physician assistant’s, nurse practitioner’s, or chiropractor’s stationery, stating the nature of the applicant’s service-connected disability and such additional information as required by rules adopted by the department. The application shall be approved by the department, and the disabled veteran plates shall be issued to the applicant in exchange for the registration plates previously issued to the person. There shall be no fee in addition to the regular annual registration fee for the disabled veteran plates issued under this subsection. The registration plates with a disabled veteran processed emblem shall be surrendered in exchange for regular registration plates as provided in subsection 12 when the owner of the vehicle no longer qualifies as a person with a disability as defined in section 321L.1.
    Sec. 2.  Section 321L.2, subsection 1, paragraph a, subparagraph (1), Code 2014, is amended to read as follows:
   (1)  Persons with disabilities or disabled veteran registration plates. An applicant may order persons with disabilities registration plates or disabled veteran registration plates pursuant to section 321.34. An applicant may order a persons with disabilities registration plate or a disabled veteran registration plate for a trailer used to transport a wheelchair pursuant to section 321.34 in addition to persons with disabilities registration plates or disabled veteran registration plates ordered by the applicant for a motor vehicle used to tow such a trailer pursuant to section 321.34.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill provides for the issuance of special vehicle registration plates with a disabled veteran processed emblem, to be designed by the department of transportation in consultation with the adjutant general. The special disabled veteran plates are available to the owner of a motor truck, motor home, multipurpose vehicle, motorcycle, trailer, or travel trailer who is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States and, due to a service-connected disability, meets the definition of a person with a disability eligible to use persons with disabilities parking spaces. Application for the disabled veteran registration plates must be accompanied by documentation identifying the person as a disabled veteran with a service-connected disability along with a statement from a physician, physician assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or chiropractor stating the nature of the applicant’s service-connected disability and any additional information required by rules adopted by the department. Upon approval of the application by the department, the disabled veteran registration plates shall be issued without any additional fee, other than the regular registration fee for the vehicle. The disabled veteran registration plates shall serve as a persons with a disability parking permit for the disabled veteran. As with regular persons with disabilities special plates, the disabled veteran plates are required to be surrendered in exchange for regular registration plates when the owner of the vehicle no longer qualifies as a person with a disability for purposes of special parking privileges.