Substitute Senate Bill No. 279 with File No. 295 proposes changes to the certification process for removable windshield placards for individuals who are blind or have disabilities. The bill requires that health care professionals provide certification based on a professional opinion after a medically reasonable assessment, and it prohibits them from charging fees contingent on the certification outcome. It also introduces a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for violations related to these certifications. The bill includes insertions of new legal language and deletions of outdated terms, updating the definitions of "health care professional," "person," and "removable windshield placard."

The bill also amends the composition of the Accessible Parking Advisory Council by changing the qualifications of its members. It removes the requirement for one of the appointees to be a municipal planner and instead requires that appointees by the Senate and House chairpersons and ranking members of the committee be individuals who use accessible parking or advocate on their behalf. The bill includes technical changes for clarity, such as updating the term "medical professional" to "health care professional." The provisions related to the certification process will take effect on October 1, 2024, while the changes to the advisory council are effective upon passage.