HF 2476 (LSB 5121YH (4) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2476

BY  WILSON, LEVIN, KRESSIG, WILBURN, AMOS JR., HOLT, BLOM, McBURNEY, SRINIVAS, MADISON, BARKER, JONES, and BAGNIEWSKI

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to driver’s licenses and nonoperator’s identification cards marked to reflect a holder’s nonapparent disability status.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.189, subsection 10, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   10.  Autism spectrum disorder Nonapparent disability status.  A licensee who has a nonapparent disability, including autism spectrum disorder, as defined in section 514C.28, a mental disability, as defined in section 915.37, a developmental disability, as defined in section 335.25, or any other intellectual disability, may request that the license be marked to reflect the licensee’s autism spectrum disorder nonapparent disability status on the face of the license when the licensee applies for the issuance or renewal of a license.  A licensee may choose to have the face of the person’s license marked with a butterfly design approved by the department, or in a manner the department determines is sufficient to signify the person has a nonapparent disability. The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A establishing criteria under which a license may be marked, including requiring the licensee to submit medical proof of the licensee’s autism spectrum disorder nonapparent disability status. When a driver’s license is so marked, the licensee’s autism spectrum disorder nonapparent disability status shall be noted in the electronic database used by the department and law enforcement to access registration, titling, and driver’s license information. The department, in consultation with the department of health and human services, shall develop educational media to raise awareness of a licensee’s ability to request the license be marked to reflect the licensee’s autism spectrum disorder nonapparent disability status.
    Sec. 2.  Section 321.190, subsection 1, paragraph b, subparagraph (6), Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   (6)  An applicant for a nonoperator’s identification card who has autism spectrum disorder, as defined in section 514C.28 a nonapparent disability, as described in section 321.189, subsection 10, may request that the card be marked to reflect the applicant’s autism spectrum disorder nonapparent disability status on the face of the card when the applicant applies for the issuance or renewal of a card.  An applicant may choose to have the face of the person’s card marked with a butterfly design approved by the department, or in a manner the department determines is sufficient to signify the person has a nonapparent disability. The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A establishing criteria under which a card may be marked, including requiring the applicant to submit medical proof of the applicant’s autism spectrum disorder nonapparent disability status. The department, in consultation with the department of health and human services, shall develop educational media to raise awareness of an applicant’s ability to request the card be marked to reflect the applicant’s autism spectrum disorder nonapparent disability status.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   Under current law, a person who has autism spectrum disorder may be issued a driver’s license or nonoperator’s identification card (ID card) that is marked to reflect the person’s autism spectrum disorder status on the face of the license or ID card. This bill instead authorizes a person with a nonapparent disability, as described in the bill, to be issued a driver’s license or ID card marked to reflect the person’s nonapparent disability status. A person must request the person’s license or ID card be marked when the person applies for issuance or renewal of a license or ID card. A person may choose to have the license or ID card marked with a butterfly design approved by the department of transportation (DOT) or in a manner the DOT determines is sufficient to signify the person has a nonapparent disability. In accordance with current law, the DOT may establish criteria under which a license or ID card may be marked, including requiring an applicant to submit medical proof of the applicant’s nonapparent disability status.
   The bill does not amend the manner in which a license or ID card is marked to reflect the status of a deaf person or hard-of-hearing person pursuant to Code sections 321.189(9) and 321.190(1)(b)(5).