HF 431 (LSB 2246YH (3) 87)

HOUSE FILE 431

BY  KACENA, R. SMITH, BROWN-POWERS, MASCHER, THEDE, HUNTER, HANSON, ANDERSON, NIELSEN, T. TAYLOR, OURTH, BEARINGER, MEYER, PRICHARD, WOLFE, GASKILL, and LENSING

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to drivers who are hearing impaired, and making a penalty applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.34, Code 2017, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  14A.  Hearing impaired special plates.
   a.  An owner referred to in subsection 12 may, upon written application to the department, order special registration plates with a hearing impaired processed emblem designed by the department bearing the international symbol of access for hearing loss. The special registration plates with a hearing impaired processed emblem shall only be issued if the application is accompanied by a statement from a physician licensed under chapter 148 or an audiologist licensed under chapter 154F, written on the physician’s or audiologist’s stationery, stating the nature of the applicant’s hearing loss and such additional information as required by rules adopted by the department. If the application is approved by the department, the special registration plates with a hearing impaired processed emblem shall be issued to the applicant. There shall be no fee in addition to the regular annual registration fee for the special registration plates with a hearing impaired processed emblem. The authorization for special registration plates with a hearing impaired processed emblem shall not be renewed without the applicant furnishing evidence to the department that the owner of the vehicle is still hearing impaired.
   b.  When special registration plates with a hearing impaired processed emblem are issued to an applicant, the department shall also furnish to the applicant at no cost three stickers bearing the international symbol of access for hearing loss. The applicant shall place one sticker in the upper left corner of the vehicle’s windshield, one sticker in the upper left corner of the vehicle’s driver’s side window, and one sticker, which shall be treated with a reflective material according to specifications adopted by the department, in the upper left corner of the vehicle’s rear window.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill permits the owner of a vehicle to, upon written application to the department of transportation (DOT), order special registration plates with a hearing impaired processed emblem designed by the DOT bearing the international symbol of access for hearing loss. The bill provides that special registration plates with a hearing impaired processed emblem shall only be issued if the application is accompanied by a statement from a physician or audiologist, written on the physician’s or audiologist’s stationery, stating the nature of the applicant’s hearing loss. If the application is approved by the DOT, the special registration plates with a hearing impaired processed emblem shall be issued to the applicant. There shall be no fee in addition to the regular annual registration fee for the special registration plates with a hearing impaired processed emblem. The bill prohibits the authorization for special registration plates with a hearing impaired processed emblem from being renewed without the applicant furnishing evidence to the DOT that the owner of the vehicle is still hearing impaired.
   The bill also provides that when special registration plates with a hearing impaired processed emblem are issued to an applicant, the DOT shall also furnish to the applicant at no cost three stickers bearing the international symbol of access for hearing loss. The bill requires the applicant to place one sticker in the upper left corner of the vehicle’s windshield, one sticker in the upper left corner of the vehicle’s driver’s side window, and one sticker, which shall be treated with a reflective material, in the upper left corner of the vehicle’s rear window. By operation of law, a violation of the bill is punishable by a scheduled fine of $20.