House Bill 961

Chair's Name: Tom Rice

Committee: Motor Vehicles

House Sponsor: Chuck Sim

HB 961 addresses special parking permits for disabled persons. The bill requires that medical affidavits be from a licensed doctor of medicine, osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine or optometrist. The permits must be laminated to prevent alteration and temporary permits must have the expiration date machine printed in bold type. Temporary permits must also vary in color for each renewal cycle. Section 2 of the bill clarifies that active duty military physicians may submit affidavits in support of disabled military personnel regardless if they are licensed in Georgia.

This committee substitute comes to the House Floor under the Open Rule and it is expected that the bill’s sponsor will offer a floor amendment to correct a reference to the permit’s color.

Chairman Rice’s opinion of this legislation:

Currently the “disability mirror hanger” is not secure from alteration. There have been many instances of false changes to the card to extend the time of applicability. This bill requires a laminated card. It also requires that only specified practitioners can authorize its use.