HB1584

<BillNo> <Sponsor>
HOUSE BILL 1584
By Ogles
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55,

Chapter 21 and Title 55, Chapter 4, relative to the
identification of motor vehicles operated by
persons with certain disabilities or conditions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 21, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:
(a) As used in this section, "developmental disability" and "intellectual disability"
have the same meanings as defined in § 33-1-101.
(b)
(1) The department shall, upon application accompanied by a licensed
physician, psychiatrist, psychologist or senior psychological examiner, or
neurologist, provide and issue registration and registration plates to any person
who submits satisfactory proof to the department, on a form provided by the
department, that an operator of the person's motor vehicle has an intellectual
disability, a developmental disability, or a medical condition that may impede
communications with, or impact the operator's encounter with, a first responder,
including a law enforcement officer, during a traffic stop or welfare check. The
registration plates must conform to the requirements of § 55-4-103, except that
they must bear a distinctive series of letters and numbers to inform law
enforcement officers that the operator of the vehicle has an intellectual disability,
a developmental disability, or a medical condition.
(2) The department shall disclose the distinctive series of letters and
numbers only to the department of safety and other law enforcement agencies
HB1584
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with jurisdiction in this state, and shall not make the information available to the
general public.
(3) Plates may be issued to any qualified applicant upon payment of the
regular registration fee for plates, as prescribed under § 55-4-111, plus payment
of a fee equal to the cost of actually producing the plate.
(4) Except as expressly provided by this section, registration and license
plates for the operator who has the disability or condition are to be issued and
renewed in accordance with chapter 4, part 1 of this title.
(5) Plates issued pursuant to this subsection (b) are valid as long as the
person with the disability or condition is eligible for a plate.
(6) Plates must be returned to the department upon the death of the
person with the disability or condition.
(7) All law enforcement officers charged with the enforcement of this
chapter must receive, as part of in-service training, instruction in the identification
of the special license plates for operators who have such disabilities or conditions
provided for in this subsection (b).
(c)
(1) In lieu of, or in addition to, obtaining a plate, a person meeting the
requirements of subsection (b) may request that the department include such
designation in the Tennessee Vehicle Title and Registration System (VTRS)
database. The request must be accompanied by a statement from a licensed
physician, psychiatrist, psychologist or senior psychological examiner, or
neurologist supporting the request for a designation. Upon receipt of such a
request accompanied by the statement, the department shall cause the
operator's disability or medical condition to be entered into the VTRS database,
and ensure such designation is associated with the operator's motor vehicle and
registration.
HB1584
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(2) Information submitted to the department under this subsection (c)
must be supplied to law enforcement to assist in identifying the operator of the
vehicle as having an intellectual disability, a developmental disability, or a
medical condition that may impede the operator's communications with, or impact
the operator's encounter with, a first responder. Information collected pursuant to
this subsection (c) must only be available to law enforcement for the purpose of
ensuring safe and efficient interactions between law enforcement and persons
who have such disabilities or conditions, and must not be used for any other
purpose.
(3) All law enforcement officers charged with the enforcement of this title
and emergency call takers and public safety dispatchers, as described in § 7-86-
205, must receive instruction in the identification of such designation included in
the VTRS database as provided for in this subsection (c).
(d) The department of revenue shall consult with the department of mental
health and substance abuse services as to mental illnesses or serious emotional
disturbances, the department of intellectual and developmental disabilities as to
intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the department of health as to medical
conditions that meet the requirements of this section.
(e) The commissioner of revenue is authorized to promulgate rules in
accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter
5, necessary to carry out this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2021, the public welfare requiring it.
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<BillNo> <Sponsor>

HOUSE BILL 1584

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55,

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

the following as a new section:

(a) As used in this section, "developmental disability" and "intellectual disability"

have the same meanings as defined in § 33-1-101.

(1) The department shall, upon application accompanied by a licensed

physician, psychiatrist, psychologist or senior psychological examiner, or

who submits satisfactory proof to the department, on a form provided by the

department, that an operator of the person's motor vehicle has an intellectual

disability, a developmental disability, or a medical condition that may impede

communications with, or impact the operator's encounter with, a first responder,

registration plates must conform to the requirements of § 55-4-103, except that

a developmental disability, or a medical condition.

of a fee equal to the cost of actually producing the plate.

(4) Except as expressly provided by this section, registration and license

renewed in accordance with chapter 4, part 1 of this title.

person with the disability or condition is eligible for a plate.

person with the disability or condition.

chapter must receive, as part of in-service training, instruction in the identification

provided for in this subsection (b).

designation in the Tennessee Vehicle Title and Registration System (VTRS)

database. The request must be accompanied by a statement from a licensed

physician, psychiatrist, psychologist or senior psychological examiner, or

neurologist supporting the request for a designation. Upon receipt of such a

request accompanied by the statement, the department shall cause the

operator's disability or medical condition to be entered into the VTRS database,

must be supplied to law enforcement to assist in identifying the operator of the

vehicle as having an intellectual disability, a developmental disability, or a

the operator's encounter with, a first responder. Information collected pursuant to

205, must receive instruction in the identification of such designation included in

the VTRS database as provided for in this subsection (c).

health and substance abuse services as to mental illnesses or serious emotional

disturbances, the department of intellectual and developmental disabilities as to

intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the department of health as to medical

conditions that meet the requirements of this section.

(e) The commissioner of revenue is authorized to promulgate rules in

5, necessary to carry out this section.

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