HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 2842

BYRepresentatives Hine, G. Fisher, Brooks, Sprenkle, Zellinsky, Prentice, R. Fisher, Sayan, Ballard, Moyer, Todd, Anderson, Winsley, Heavey, Ferguson, Rasmussen and Wineberry

Permitting more discretion in granting disabled parking permits.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (25)

      Signed by Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair, Eastern Washington; R. Meyers, Vice Chair, Western Washington; Schmidt, Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Bennett, Betrozoff, Cantwell, Cooper, Day, G. Fisher, Forner, Gallagher, Hankins, Heavey, Jones, Kremen, Nelson, Prentice, Smith, D. Sommers, Todd, Walker, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Mary McLaughlin (786-7309)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 9, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Persons with special parking privileges are entitled to park, for unlimited periods of time and free of charge, in spaces reserved for the disabled, public zones and metered parking areas. The original intent of the law was to aid persons for whom travel was impossible or impractical.  The law is viewed not as a privilege, but as an essential accommodation for movement.  The program is administered by the Department of Licensing.

Special parking privileges are extended to individuals with specific disabilities that impair mobility (loss of limbs, lung and heart disease, use of a wheelchair or crutches).  There are no provisions for other disabling medical conditions that may limit an individual's mobility.

A disabled person is entitled to either:  (1) disabled license plates or decal if the individual is the registered vehicle owner, or (2) a special card that may be moved from vehicle to vehicle.

SUMMARY:

The disabled parking privilege is extended to a person who suffers from an acute sensitivity to automobile emissions that impairs the ability to walk.  The patient's physician must document that the disability is comparable in severity to current qualifying disabilities.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Alice Trerice, Advisory Council for Department of Services for the Blind.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Glenn Galbreath, Paralyzed Veterans of America; and Toby Olson, Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The blind community supports the concept as long as the blind are not included in the provisions.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      The disabling conditions are too broad.