BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 1944
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          Date of Hearing:   May 12, 2010

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                    AB 1944 (Fletcher) - As Amended:  May 3, 2010 

          Policy Committee:                              Veterans  
          AffairsVote: 9-0
                       Transportation                         14-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY  

          This bill establishes new procedures for the issuance of special  
          license plates to disabled veterans that rely on the  
          certification from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for  
          proof of the applicant's service-connected disability.

           FISCAL EFFECT
           
          Minor and absorbable costs to the DMV. 

           COMMENTS
           
           1)Rationale  . The bill is intended to provide a more streamlined  
            verification process for disabled veterans seeking a special  
            license plate. The author asserts that the bill will ensure  
            "that veterans have access to disabled veterans' license  
            plates and the privileges that go with them." 

           2)Background  . A disabled person or disabled veteran displaying a  
            special license plate or a placard is permitted to park in  
            specified restricted zones and parking spaces, or in metered  
            parking spaces without being required to pay the fees. Current  
            law requires DVM to issue a special license plate to a  
            disabled person pursuant to regulations adopted by the  
            department.

            Existing procedures adopted by DMV to verify disabilities  
            require an applicant whose disability is not readily  
            observable to submit certification to DMV from a medical  
            professional that substantiates the disability. This step is  








                                                                  AB 1944
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            redundant in the case of disabled veterans, who have already  
            received certification from the U.S. Department of Veterans  
            Affairs of a service-connected disability.   

           
          Analysis Prepared by  :    Brad Williams / APPR. / (916) 319-2081