Substitute House Bill No. 7159 seeks to improve communication and accommodations between first responders and individuals with cognitive impairments or physical disabilities by introducing yellow envelopes. These envelopes, designed by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles in collaboration with advocacy organizations, will contain essential identification and information to assist first responders in effectively interacting with these individuals. The bill mandates the development of public awareness materials to promote understanding and will ensure that these resources are distributed at public service locations. Additionally, the bill amends the responsibilities of the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity by focusing on consulting with organizations advocating for individuals with disabilities, while removing a previous provision regarding maintaining liaisons with these groups.

Furthermore, the bill enhances training requirements for first responders, including police and fire personnel, by establishing a collaborative effort to develop educational programs focused on effective communication with vulnerable populations. It specifies that police training must include a minimum of 27 hours of juvenile-related training, while fire service training will incorporate information about the yellow envelopes. The Department of Public Health will compile a list of approved training programs for emergency medical services personnel. The bill also includes a technical change by replacing "firefighters" with "firefighter" in the law's definition section. Overall, the bill aims to improve the preparedness of first responders and enhance public safety for individuals with disabilities, with a minimal estimated fiscal impact of approximately $2,000 for the production and distribution of the envelopes.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-294h, 7-323j
TRA Joint Favorable Substitute: 7-294h, 7-323j
File No. 562: 7-294h, 7-323j