What's happening
This bill allows chiropractors to certify disabilities for tax exemptions, handicapped plates, and school health services in New York.
Why it matters
Expands access for patients seeking disability certifications. by allowing chiropractors, who often treat musculoskeletal and mobility issues, to certify disabilities—potentially reducing wait times and barriers for those needing tax exemptions or accessible vehicle accommodations.
Recognizes chiropractors as qualified healthcare providers. for important legal and administrative purposes, marking a shift in how their professional judgment is valued alongside physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in New York state law.
Improves flexibility for schools and families. by permitting school districts to directly employ chiropractors for student health services, potentially broadening the scope of care and expertise available to students with physical impairments.
May lead to broader debates about the roles and competencies of different health professionals. in certifying disability and providing public services, setting a precedent for other allied health fields seeking similar recognition.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Chiropractors Certify Disability
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local government
- Referred to local government
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Let Chiropractors Certify Disability
In Assembly Committee · Real Property Taxation · Sponsor David Weprin
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4783
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 25, 2019
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to enabling chiropractors to certify disability; to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to enabling chiropractors to certify disability for the purpose of issuance of handicapped license plates and registration; and to amend the education law, in relation to enabling chiropractors to be employed by school districts to provide school health services
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 459 of the real property tax law, as amended by chapter 265 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
2. To qualify as physically disabled for the purposes of this section, an individual shall submit to the assessor a certified statement from a physician or chiropractor licensed to practice in the state on a form prescribed and made available by the commissioner which states that the individual has a permanent physical impairment which substantially limits one or more of such individual's major life activities, except that an individual who has obtained a certificate from the state commission for the blind stating that such individual is legally blind may submit such certificate in lieu of a physician's certified statement.
§ 2. Subdivision 4 and paragraph (b) of subdivision 5 of section 404-a of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 376 of the laws of 2015, are amended to read as follows:
4. Issue of plates. The commissioner shall issue sets of plates to such person in accordance with subdivision two of this section with proof of such disability of such person or such members of his or her family certified by a physician, physician assistant, chiropractor or nurse practitioner, to the extent authorized by law and consistent with
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08440-01-9
S. 4783 2
subdivision three of section six thousand nine hundred two of the education law, or podiatrist pursuant to subdivision four-a of this section or optometrist pursuant to subdivision four-b of this section, to the satisfaction of the commissioner who is empowered to carry out the effects of this section by formulating rules and regulations.
For the purposes of this section, a "severely disabled person" shall mean any person having any one or more of the following impairments, disabilities or conditions which are permanent in nature:
(a) Has limited or no use of one or both lower limbs;
(b) Has a neuro-muscular dysfunction which severely limits mobility;
(c) Has a physical or mental impairment or condition which is other than those specified above, but is of such nature as to impose unusual hardship in utilization of public transportation facilities and such condition is certified by a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner, to the extent authorized by law and consistent with subdivision three of section six thousand nine hundred two of the education law, duly licensed to practice in this state, or, pursuant to subdivision four-a of this section, a podiatrist duly licensed to practice podiatry in this state or, pursuant to subdivision four-b of this section, an optometrist duly licensed to practice optometry in this state, as constituting an equal degree of disability (specifying the particular condition) so as to prevent such person from getting around without great difficulty in accordance with subdivision two of this section; or
(d) A blind person.
(b) The commissioner may require the applicant for registration to furnish such proof of his or her disability or such proof of disability of such members of his or her family from a physician, physician assistant, chiropractor or nurse practitioner, to the extent authorized by law and consistent with subdivision three of section six thousand nine hundred two of the education law, or podiatrist pursuant to subdivision four-a of this section or optometrist pursuant to subdivision four-b of this section, as the commissioner deems necessary either for initial registration or renewal thereof; provided, however, that a handicapped or disabled permit issued by a municipality to such applicant pursuant to section twelve hundred three-a of this chapter shall be deemed sufficient proof of disability for purposes of this paragraph.
§ 3. Subdivision 1 of section 902 of the education law, as amended by chapter 477 of the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
1. As used in this article "health professionals" means persons duly licensed or otherwise authorized to practice a health profession pursuant to applicable law, including, but not limited to, physicians, registered professional nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians assistants, optometrists, dentists, dental hygienists, chiropractors, dietitians and nutritionists, and audiologists.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation to enabling chiropractors to certify disability; to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to enabling chiropractors to certify disa- bility for the purpose of issuance of handicapped license plates and registration; and to amend the education law, in relation to enabling chiropractors to be employed by school districts to provide school health services
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to bring parity and equity among direct access health care practitioners.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends real property tax law § 459 and enables chiropractors to certify an individual's disability.
Section 2 amends vehicle and traffic law § 404-a to enable chiropractors to certify a person's disability for the purpose of receiving handicap license plates and registration.
Section 3 amends education law § 902 so as to allow chiropractors to be employed by a school district to assist the district's medical inspector or to provide services to students of the district.
Justification
Most direct access health care professionals are empowered under various sections of the law to certify to a patient's disability for parking permits and handicapped license plates. However, through legislative oversight, chiropractors have been omitted from the list of providers who can certify to their patient's disability. Sections 1 and 2 of this bill simply clarify that chiropractors are included in the list of health care professionals who can certify to a patient's disability. This legislation brings parity among the direct access health care Professionals. Moreover, without this legislation patients must incur the time and expense of being examined by a second professional, whose profession is listed, since their chiropractor is currently unable to certify to their disability.
Legislative history
2017-18: 53466 - REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT: 2015-16: S.1754A/A.3342A - Amend and Recommit to Local Government 2013-14: S.893A - Died in Local Government 2011-12: S.5344/A.4167A - Died in Local Government A.11155 of 2010.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.