Relating to driver’s licenses and nonoperator’s identification cards marked to reflect deaf or hard-of-hearing status. Effective 7-1-19

This bill allows a person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing to request that the person’s driver’s license be marked to reflect the person’s deaf or hard-of-hearing status on the face of the license when the person applies for the issuance or renewal of a license. The bill authorizes the department of transportation (DOT) to adopt rules establishing criteria under which a license may be marked in this manner, including requiring the person to submit medical proof of the person’s deaf or hard-of-hearing status. When a driver’s license is so marked, the licensee’s deaf or hard-of-hearing status must be noted in the electronic database used by the DOT and law enforcement to access registration, titling, and driver’s license information. The bill requires the DOT, in consultation with the commission of deaf services, to develop educational media to raise awareness about the ability to request such a mark on a license. The bill applies similar provisions to nonoperator’s identification cards, other than the requirement to note the status in the electronic database.