WSR 21-10-099

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING

[Filed May 5, 2021, 10:25 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Creating medical alerts/designations on driver's licenses and identicards for people with developmental disabilities, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and people who have a medical condition which could affect communication or account for a driver health emergency.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: SSB 6429 Providing a designation on driver's license or identicard that a person has a developmental disability. Please note that this bill also includes designations for other medical conditions such as deaf or hard of hearing, and conditions which could affect communication or account for a driver health emergency.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: This rule making will further clarify SSB 6429 regarding medical alerts/designations on driver's licenses and identicards.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The department will coordinate with Washington state patrol, the department of revenue, and the department of health on this rule making, as well as reach out to business resource groups to aid in the coordination of input from state agencies who may have expertise that would support the efficacy of these rules.

Process for Developing New Rule: Negotiated rule making; and the department intends to reach out to community partners, advocates, and other organizations who may have expertise that would support the efficacy of these rules. The department is committed to soliciting input from customers who might choose to have a medical alert/designation on their license.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Ellis Starrett, 1125 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA, phone 360-902-3846, email rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov, website dol.wa.gov/about/driversrules.html; or Jill Johnson, 1125 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA, phone 360-902-0183.

May 5, 2021

Ellis Starrett

Rules Coordinator