BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1367
81R9184 JAM-D By: Carona
Transportation & Homeland Security
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The original statute in the Transportation Code that provided for the issuance of disabled parking placards was written years ago in broad language under which optometrists were allowed to issue disability placards. The law was subsequently amended to limit issuance of such placards to a licensed doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy. However, other practitioners, including podiatrists, have since been authorized to issue disability placards.
Approximately 80 percent of individuals receive their eye care and determination of visual functioning from an optometrist. Optometrists also provide low vision rehabilitation services for patients with visual disabilities and coordinate care and support for persons with legal blindness. Even if a visually disabled person does not drive, relying instead on another person for transportation, the visually disabled person has sight and mobility issues and would benefit from having access to a preferential parking spot.
As proposed, S.B. 1367 amends Section 681.003(e), Transportation Code, to authorize a person who is licensed to practice optometry or therapeutic optometry to provide a notarized statement or written prescription required for a disabled parking placard for a person who has a mobility problem caused by an impairment of vision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 681.003(e), Transportation Code, to authorize the notarized written statement or written prescription required by Subsection (c) (relating to a requirement for written notarized statement) to be issued by a person licensed to practice optometry or therapeutic optometry in this state or a state adjacent to this state, if a first application for a disabled parking placard under this section is made by or on behalf of a person with a mobility problem caused by an impairment of vision.
SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2009.