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Motion of the Council of Allegheny County expressing the sense of Council urging the General Assembly to consider and approve Pennsylvania HB 625 with all deliberate speed in order to allow for the placement of discreet information upon Commonwealth-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards in order to aid first responders in more effectively assisting individuals with disabilities.
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WHEREAS, it is well-known that some individuals with disabilities may have a difficult time communicating with others, particularly in emergency situations; and
WHEREAS, while emergency services personnel have taken significant steps to increase training and awareness of such situations, challenges continue to arise insofar as it is simply not always self-evident that an individual has a disability that may materially impact how a first responder assists them; and
WHEREAS, on March 3, 2021, Pennsylvania Representative Dan Miller introduced HB 625, a bill which would allow for an optional, discreet designation to be placed on a person’s driver’s license or state issued identification card which would identify them as a person with a disability, and thereby facilitate a more positive and informed interaction with any first responders assisting them; and
WHEREAS, specifically, HB 625 would amend §1510 of Title 75 (Vehicles) by adding a section allowing for persons with medical professional-verified disabilities request that a discreet identifier symbol be placed on the face of their driver’s license or state-issued identification card; and
WHEREAS, the identifier contemplated by HB 625 would not specify the type of disability, but it would provide key insight to the emergency responder as to how to approach assisting and communicating with the individual; and
WHEREAS, Representative Miller was joined in co-sponsoring HB 625 by Representatives Sanchez, Kinsey, Hill-Evans, McNeill, Freeman, Guenst, Schlossberg, A. Davis, Hohenstein, Galloway, Madden, O'Mara, Delloso, Deasy, Warren, Isaacson, Pisciotano, and Sainato; and
WHEREAS, HB 625 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation, but no further action has been taken on the bill as of October 27, 2021; and
WHEREAS, it is the sense of Council that the proposed legislation would inure to the benefit of Allegheny County residents and all Pennsylvanians, insofar as it would provide a critical tool for first responders to utilize in assessing the needs of the individuals that they aid; and
WHEREAS, it is further the judgment of Council that the proposed language effectively strikes an elegant balance by requiring that the identifying information be as discreet as possible, and by providing that its inclusion is entirely at the licensee’s discretion and not subject to any additional fee(s);
The Council of the County of Allegheny therefore hereby moves as follows:
Allegheny County Council hereby urges the General Assembly to consider and approve HB 625 with all deliberate speed in order to allow for the placement of discreet information upon Commonwealth-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards in order to aid first responders in effectively assisting individuals with disabilities.