Title: An act relating to disabled persons' parking places.

Brief Description: Revising marking requirement for disabled persons' parking places.

Sponsors: Senators Regala, Swecker, Haugen, Esser, Weinstein, Rasmussen, Schoesler, Fraser, Poulsen, Mulliken and McAuliffe.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/21/05, 3/1/05 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5580 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Jacobsen, Vice Chair; Poulsen, Vice Chair; Swecker, Ranking Minority Member; Benson, Eide, Esser, Kastama, Mulliken, Oke, Spanel and Weinstein.

Staff: Kimberly Johnson (786-7346)

Background: Under current law, the Code Reviser must avoid references to certain words that have been frequently used to describe individuals with disabilities. The specific terms are: disabled, developmentally disabled, mentally disabled, mentally retarded, handicapped, cripple and crippled. The terms must be avoided in future laws as well as replaced in existing statutes as those statutes are amended by law. The replacement terms are: "individuals with disabilities," "individuals with developmental disabilities," "individuals with mental retardation." Signs marking parking spaces for individuals with disabilities are required to display the universal symbol of access and to be marked with the phrase "State disabled parking permit required."

Summary of Substitute Bill: The requirement that a sign for parking spaces for individuals with disabilities include the phrase "State disabled parking permit required" is removed.

Signs marking accessible parking spaces may include additional language, including but not limited to, notice of the amount of a monetary penalty that may be assessed for parking in the space without a valid permit.

Various statutory reference to "disabled persons" are changed to refer to "persons with disabilities."

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The original bill was not considered.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Parking signs for accessible spaces can do a better job describing that the space is accessible, without using disrespectful references. This bill is the next logical step to the respectful language law passed last year, and will help the state move away from using language that is focused on the disability instead of the person. This bill does not change the fact that permits are required and that fines will be issued. The current design of the sign will be phased out over time as signs are replaced, so it will not cost the state money.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Emily Rogers, Self-Advocates in Leadership; James Oliver.