HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 2003

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/7/17, 97-0.

Senate Amended.

Passed Senate: 4/10/17, 48-0.

House Concurred.

Passed House: 4/13/17, 96-0.

Passed Legislature.

Brief Summary of Engrossed Bill

Adds companies that dispatch taxicab vehicles or vehicles for hire to the list of organizations that may apply for special parking privileges.
Prohibits wheelchair accessible taxicabs and for hire vehicles from using special parking privilege while not in service.
Defines "in service" for wheelchair accessible taxicabs or for hire vehicles.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 24 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Fey, Vice Chair; Wylie, Vice Chair; Orcutt, Ranking Minority Member; Hargrove, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Harmsworth, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chapman, Gregerson, Hayes, Irwin, Kloba, Lovick, McBride, Morris, Ortiz-Self, Pellicciotti, Pike, Riccelli, Shea, Stambaugh, Tarleton, Van Werven, Young and Farrell.

Background:

The Department of Licensing (DOL) must grant special parking privileges to a person with a disability who meets at least one condition of a specified list of criteria, as determined by a licensed physician, advanced nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. For individuals granted a special parking privilege, the DOL must provide either special license plates or parking placards containing the international symbol of access, and an identification card. Parking privileges for persons with disabilities must be renewed at least every five years. Parking placards and identification cards must be immediately returned to the DOL upon the placard holder's death.

Certain organizations that transport anyone who has a qualifying disability may also apply for special parking privileges including public transportation authorities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, senior citizen centers, private nonprofit corporations, registered cabulance companies, and accessible van rental companies. Those organizations are responsible for ensuring that the parking placards and special license plates are not used improperly and are responsible for all fines and penalties for improper use.

Summary of Engrossed Bill:

Companies that dispatch taxicab vehicles or vehicles for hire are added to the list of organizations that may apply for special parking privileges. The parking placards and special license plates for these companies are for vehicles equipped with wheelchair accessible lifts or ramps for the transport of persons with disabilities and that are regularly dispatched and used in the transport of such persons. These vehicles are prohibited from using special parking privileges while not in service, defined as in the process of picking up, transporting, or discharging a passenger.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Learning that other entities who provide wheelchair-accessible transportation are allowed to get a disabled parking plate or placard, but wheelchair-accessible taxicabs are not makes zero sense. Adding these companies to the list allows them to apply for the plates and park in the disabled space, allows them the room to deploy their ramps, and minimizes distance the customers have to travel to get to the taxi. Ninety percent of passengers for wheelchair-accessible operators have pick ups that are inside of a building. The operators need to park somewhere they can safely lower the ramp. Most buildings do not have adequate legal parking that is near the front of the building. Operators are asking for the access so they can do their jobs effectively; loading customers in the middle of the road is not safe for the customer or the operator. Please support this bill so our residents and visitors to this area can have easier access to their communities and the activities of daily life through a wheelchair-accessible taxicab that can park in a space that is safe and convenient.

(Opposed) None.