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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to specialized license plates and parking placards for |
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vehicles of persons with disabilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 504.201, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsections (d-2) and (d-3) |
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to read as follows: |
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(d) Except as provided by Subsections [Subsection] (d-1), |
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(d-2), and (d-3), the initial application for specialty license |
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plates under this section must be accompanied by a written |
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statement from a physician who is licensed to practice medicine in |
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this state or in a state adjacent to this state or who is authorized |
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by applicable law to practice medicine in a hospital or other health |
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facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs. [If the applicant
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has a mobility problem caused by a disorder of the foot, the written
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statement may be issued by a person licensed to practice podiatry in
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this state or a state adjacent to this state.
In this subsection,
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"podiatry" has the meaning assigned by Section 681.001.] The |
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statement must certify that the person making the application or on |
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whose behalf the application is made is legally blind or has a |
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mobility problem that substantially impairs the person's ability to |
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ambulate. The statement must also certify whether a mobility |
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problem is temporary or permanent. A written statement is not |
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required as acceptable medical proof if: |
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(1) the person with a disability: |
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(A) has had a limb, hand, or foot amputated; or |
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(B) must use a wheelchair; and |
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(2) the applicant and the county assessor-collector |
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processing the application execute an affidavit attesting to the |
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person's disability. |
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(d-2) If the initial application for specialty license |
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plates under this section is made by or on behalf of a person with a |
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mobility problem that substantially impairs the person's ability to |
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ambulate, the written statement required by Subsection (d) may be |
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issued by a person licensed to practice chiropractic in this state |
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or a state adjacent to this state. In this subsection, |
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"chiropractic" has the meaning assigned by Section 201.002, |
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Occupations Code. |
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(d-3) If the initial application for specialty license |
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plates under this section is made by or on behalf of a person with a |
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mobility problem caused by a disorder of the foot, the written |
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statement may be issued by a person licensed to practice podiatry in |
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this state or a state adjacent to this state. In this subsection, |
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"podiatry" has the meaning assigned by Section 681.001. |
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SECTION 2. Section 681.003, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (h) to read as |
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follows: |
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(e) If a first application for a disabled parking placard |
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under this section is made by or on behalf of a person with: |
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(1) a mobility problem caused by a disorder of the |
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foot, the notarized written statement or written prescription |
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required by Subsection (c) may be issued by a person licensed to |
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practice podiatry in this state or a state adjacent to this state; |
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[or] |
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(2) a disability caused by an impairment of vision as |
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provided by Section 681.001(2), the notarized written statement or |
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written prescription required by Subsection (c) may be issued by a |
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person licensed to engage in the practice of optometry or the |
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practice of therapeutic optometry in this state or a state adjacent |
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to this state; or |
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(3) a mobility problem that substantially impairs the |
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person's ability to ambulate, the notarized written statement or |
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written prescription required by Subsection (c) may be issued by a |
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person licensed to practice chiropractic in this state or a state |
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adjacent to this state. |
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(h) In this section, "chiropractic" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 201.002, Occupations Code. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |