Vehicle Laws - Licenses, Identification Cards, and Moped Operator's Permits - Notation of Nonapparent Disability (Eric's ID Law)
HB707, known as Eric’s ID Law, creates a voluntary option for applicants for a driver’s license, identification card, or moped operator’s permit to indicate that they have a nonapparent disability. The bill defines a nonapparent disability to include disabilities or health conditions that are not immediately visible, specifically including developmental and intellectual disabilities. If an applicant chooses the notation, the Motor Vehicle Administration must place it on the bottom of the credential and may not charge a fee for the notation or for a corrected document issued solely for that purpose.
The bill also requires the MVA to support the program through public outreach, consult with developmental disability and intellectual disability advocacy groups on the notation’s design, and notify individuals when they turn 18 that they may request removal of the notation. Individuals may request deletion of the record of the notation at any time. The law further restricts disclosure of information related to the notation, limits when it may be shared, and bars the MVA from using the notation as a basis to refer someone to the Medical Advisory Board. It also directs the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to implement training on interactions with people who have the notation.
HB707 amends Maryland Transportation law by adding a new section governing nonapparent disability notations on licenses, identification cards, and moped operator’s permits. It creates new duties for the Motor Vehicle Administration regarding application design, credential issuance, record deletion, confidentiality, outreach, and coordination with advocacy groups, while also establishing limits on disclosure to insurers and other entities. The bill affects applicants who voluntarily seek the notation, the MVA, law enforcement training authorities, and certain agencies that may receive limited access to the information under specified circumstances.
The bill appears to have broad support and little visible opposition. The recorded votes were unanimous in both chambers, with overwhelming yeas and no nays, suggesting strong bipartisan agreement on the measure’s purpose and structure. The absence of committee transcript material also suggests there was no significant public controversy reflected in the available record.
The main policy issues in the bill concern privacy, verification, and appropriate use of the notation. The law intentionally prevents the MVA from requiring proof of the disability, from denying an application because the selected disability does not match another document, and from disclosing the information to insurers or the Maryland Insurance Administration without a court order. Another point of sensitivity is the balance between helping individuals communicate a nonapparent disability and avoiding misuse or stigma, which is addressed through voluntary participation, the ability to remove the notation, and limits on disclosure. Advocacy groups for developmental and intellectual disabilities are specifically involved in the design process, indicating those communities were central to shaping the bill.