Hernandez Bill Adds A Disability Flag To Plate Checks

The text as introduced · 524 words

89R1722 MZM-D

By: Hernandez
H.B. No. 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the notification of a peace officer through an

indication associated with vehicle registration that the vehicle

owner may be transporting a person with a disability.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,

is amended by adding Section 502.062 to read as follows:

Sec. 502.062. REGISTRATION BY OWNER WHO TRANSPORTS

PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES. (a) In this section, "person with a

disability" means a person with:

(1) a physical, intellectual, behavioral, or

cognitive impairment;

(2) autism; or

(3) a health condition or disability that may impede

effective communication with a peace officer.

(b) An application for registration must provide space for

the applicant to voluntarily indicate that the applicant may

transport a person with a disability. The department may request

from a person who makes an indication under this subsection

verification in the form of a personal attestation.

(c) The department shall provide to the Department of Public

Safety the vehicle registration information of a person who

voluntarily indicated on an application under Subsection (b) that

the person may transport a person with a disability. The department

may not provide to the Department of Public Safety information that

shows the type of health condition or disability a person has.

(d) The Department of Public Safety shall establish a system

to include information received under Subsection (c) in the Texas

Law Enforcement Telecommunications System for the purpose of

alerting a peace officer who makes a traffic stop that the operator

of the stopped vehicle may be transporting a person with a

disability.

(e) The Department of Public Safety may not make information

received under Subsection (c) available in the Texas Law

Enforcement Telecommunications System to a person who has access to

the system under a contract unless the contract prohibits the

person from disclosing that information to a person who is not

subject to the contract.

(f) The department may not issue to a person without the

person's consent a license plate with a visible marking that

indicates to the general public that the person voluntarily

indicated on an application under Subsection (b) that the person

may transport a person with a disability.

(g) Except as provided by Subsection (e), information

supplied to the department relating to a person with a disability is

for the confidential use of the department and the Department of

Public Safety and may not be disclosed to any person.

SECTION 2. A Department of Public Safety contract that

allows a person to access the Texas Law Enforcement

Telecommunications System and that is in effect before the

effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the

date on which the contract was entered into, and that law is

continued in effect for that purpose, except that the contract:

(1) continues only for the term of the contract; and

(2) may not be renewed unless the renewed contract

includes the prohibition required by Section 502.062(e),

Transportation Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.