SPONSOR: Bosley
The bill allows a resident of this State who has a health condition or disability that limits or impairs their ability to effectively communicate with law enforcement to apply to the Department of Revenue for a set of license plate decals or a designation that will be associated with the person's license plate number and made available to law enforcement under the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System (MULES). The Department must design and produce the license plate decals. The decals must be recognizable to law enforcement but must not bear any writing indicating a specific health condition or disability.
The application must be made on a form prescribed by the Department of Revenue and must be signed by a physician, certifying that the applicant or their child, parent, or spouse has such a condition or disability and will have the condition or disability for at least five years.
This bill requires the Department of Revenue to notify the State Highway Patrol of approved applications. The State Highway Patrol must prepare an entry in MULES that indicates the applicant or the applicant's child, parent, or spouse has a physical or mental health condition that may impair the ability to effectively communicate with law enforcement. The entry will remain active for five years unless the applicant requests its removal. The entry in MULES may be reactivated for another period of five years upon submission of a renewal form signed by a physician meeting the same requirements as the original application.
The Department of Public Safety must issue guidance and education materials to all law enforcement agencies in the State to promote awareness of the designation established in the bill. Rulemaking authority is granted to the Department of Revenue to implement the provisions of this bill.
Statutes affected: