Title: An act relating to adding porphyria to the list of disabilities for special parking privileges.

Brief Description: Adding porphyria to the list of disabilities for special parking privileges.

Sponsors: House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Kagi and Moeller).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/09/06, 98-0.

Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/24/06, 2/27/06 [DPA, w/oRec].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Jacobsen, Vice Chair; Poulsen, Vice Chair; Benson, Ranking Minority Member; Berkey, Eide, Esser, Finkbeiner, Mulliken, Oke, Sheldon, Spanel, Swecker and Weinstein.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.Signed by Senator Benton.

Staff: Dory On (786-7321)

Background: The Department of Licensing (Department) must grant special parking privileges to a person who has limited mobility, and meets one of the additional enumerated criteria, as determined by a licensed physician or advanced registered nurse practitioner. The additional criteria specified under current law refer largely to mobility, cardiovascular, or pulmonary related conditions.

Porphyria refers to inheritable metabolic disorders characterized by the accumulation of porphyrins in the body due to the lack of enzymes necessary to metabolize these chemicals. In many of these disorders, the accumulation of porphyrin in the skin can cause burning, blistering, swelling and scarring of sun-exposed areas.

Summary of Amended Bill: The description of individuals to whom the Department must grant special parking privileges is supplemented to include any person who has a disability that involves acute sensitivity to light, and meets one of additional enumerated criteria, as determined by a licensed physician or advanced registered nurse practitioner. The list of additional criteria is expanded to include an individual who "is restricted by a form of porphyria to the extent that the applicant would significantly benefit from a decrease in exposure to light."

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill: Amends the notice to applicants and physicians regarding penalties for knowingly providing false information to indicate that "[a] parking permit for a person with disabilities may be issued only for a medical necessity that severely affects mobility or involves acute sensitivity to light...."

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2006.

Testimony For: People who have certain types of porphyria must cover their skin and avoid exposure to sunlight as sunlight can damage exposed skin and cause painful blistering and scarring. Although the number of individuals affected may be relatively small, this bill will have a huge positive impact on their lives.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Dave McRae and Nancy Wuerth.