BILL REQ. #:  H-3098.2 

Read first time 01/11/12.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to establishing a yellow dot program for motor vehicles; adding a new section to chapter 46.16A RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds and declares that it is the policy of the state of Washington to encourage safe use of the roads by all citizens. In furtherance of this policy and in order to reduce problematic encounters and interactions between motorists and emergency medical responders and law enforcement personnel, the legislature further finds and declares that the department of licensing shall initiate a voluntary program in which interested individuals may obtain from the department a yellow dot window decal for placement on their motor vehicle and a yellow dot folder for placement in the glove compartment of the motor vehicle.
     The purpose of the yellow dot program is to assist owners and lessees of motor vehicles who participate in the program and their passengers, emergency medical responders, and law enforcement personnel in the event of a motor vehicle accident, a medical emergency, or any other interaction involving emergency medical responders or law enforcement personnel.
     A participant should affix the yellow dot window decal on the operator's side of the motor vehicle's rear window in the lower corner. The purpose of the decal is to alert emergency medical responders or law enforcement personnel and notify them to search the glove compartment of the motor vehicle for the corresponding yellow dot folder. The folder, which is intended to be stored in the glove compartment of the motor vehicle, should contain an information form with the participant's name, a photo of the participant, emergency contact information, the participant's medical conditions, recent surgeries, allergies, medications being used, and relevant information about the participant's personal physician. The folder should be updated when necessary to ensure that current information is provided, and the date of the last update should be clearly indicated on the folder.
     The purposes of the information in the folder are to assist emergency medical responders and law enforcement personnel: In the event of an accident involving the motor vehicle, a medical emergency, or any other interaction involving emergency medical responders or law enforcement personnel; in positively identifying the participant, communicating with the participant's family or emergency contacts, and ensuring that the participant's current medications and preexisting medical conditions are considered when treatment is administered for any injury the participant suffers in a motor vehicle accident; when treatment is administered for any other medical emergency; or when any other interaction involving emergency medical responders or law enforcement personnel occurs.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 46.16A RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The director shall implement a yellow dot program to provide a yellow dot window decal, which meets the requirements of the yellow dot program, and a yellow dot folder to any person who applies.
     (2) A fee must be charged for the issuance of the yellow dot window decal and yellow dot folder. The fee must be sufficient to cover the costs associated with the program and is in addition to the regular vehicle license fee and any other fees and taxes required to be paid upon registration of the motor vehicle.
     (3) Participation in the yellow dot program does not create any new or distinct obligation for emergency medical responders or law enforcement personnel to determine if there is a yellow dot folder in the motor vehicle or use the information contained in the yellow dot folder.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act takes effect January 1, 2013.