Relates to the certifications of disability for severely disabled persons to obtain certain motor vehicle registrations, plates and permits

Title of bill

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to certifications of disability for severely disabled persons to obtain certain motor vehicle registrations, plates and permits

Purpose

To authorize certifications of disability by optometrists related to motor vehicle registrations, license plates, and parking permits for severely disabled and handicapped persons.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the bill would amend Vehicle and Traffic Law § 404-a to authorize the commissioner of motor vehicles to accept a certification of disability from an optometrist for purposes of issuing a motor vehicle registration and disabled person plates to a severely disabled person.

§ 2 would amend Vehicle and Traffic Law § l203-a to authorize an optometrist to certify that a person is temporarily unable to move from location to location without the aid of an "assisting device," as a condition for the issuance by a municipality of a temporary special vehicle identification (i.e., handicap) parking permit.

Existing law

Vehicle and Traffic Law § 404-a authorizes a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or podiatrist to certify disabilities to support issuance of a distinctive motor vehicle registration and license plates to a severely disabled person. Such disabilities include: limited or no use of one or both lower limbs; neuro-muscular dysfunction which severely limits mobility; other physical or mental impairments or conditions; and blindness.

Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1203-a authorizes a physician to certify that a person is temporarily unable to move from location to location without the aid of an "assisting device" as a condition for the issuance by a municipality of a temporary special vehicle identification (i.e., handicap) parking permit.

Statement in support

The purpose of this bill is to help persons with disabilities lead independent lives through the benefits provided by motor vehicle handicap registrations and license plates, and handicap parking permits. This bill would assist in that effort by authorizing severely disabled persons to use certifications from optometrists to support their applications for these purposes. Under current law, certifications of disability from optometrists are not authorized by the Department of Motor Vehicles or municipalities for purposes of justifying the issuance of registrations, license plates and special permits; while certifications are accepted from other healthcare providers including physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and podiatrists.

It is within optometrists' scope of practice, education and training, and as provided in their licensure and registration by the State Education Department, to diagnose eye conditions, including low-vision and blindness. Since persons suffering from these conditions often have optometrists as their primary eye care provider, it is appropriate that they be able to have their optometrists certify to their disability - and for the Department of Motor Vehicles and municipalities to accept such certifications. The bill would provide that optometrists may only certify to disabilities within their scope of practice - that is eye and vision conditions, and would not authorize optometrists to certify disabilities unrelated to eye conditions such as medical conditions concerning the use of lower limbs, neuro-muscular dysfunctions that severely limit mobility, mental impairments, and most other physical conditions.

Legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect thirty days after it shall have become a law.