Removes the requirement of a disability for family members for the issuance of additional disabled person plates to family members of a severely disabled person.
Summary
A08915 amends the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law section governing registration of vehicles owned by severely disabled persons. The bill changes the rules for issuing additional disabled person license plates when a severely disabled person owns more than one vehicle. Under current law, additional plates could be issued only if the family member using the vehicle also qualified as a severely disabled person; this bill removes that requirement and allows plates to be issued for vehicles used by family members of the severely disabled person to transport that person.
The bill also makes technical and conforming updates to the statute, including replacing references to "chapter" with "article" and updating gendered language to gender-neutral language by changing "his" to "their." It takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Impact
The bill would broaden eligibility for additional disabled person plates under Vehicle and Traffic Law section 404-a by allowing family members who transport a severely disabled person to receive plates for additional vehicles without independently meeting the disability qualification. This would affect the Department of Motor Vehicles' registration and plate issuance practices and could expand access to disabled person plates for households supporting a severely disabled individual. It does not create a new benefit category so much as relaxes an existing eligibility restriction for family-use vehicles.
Sentiment
Based on the bill caption and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the available context suggests the measure is straightforward and likely intended as a practical accommodation for families of severely disabled persons. The bill text itself is administrative and noncontroversial in tone, focusing on easing access to plates rather than changing broader disability policy. No opposing viewpoints are documented in the provided materials.
Contention
The main policy change is the removal of the requirement that a family member using an additional vehicle must also qualify as severely disabled. Supporters would likely view this as a common-sense fix that better reflects how families transport disabled relatives, while any concern would center on whether the change could broaden plate eligibility beyond the original narrow class of recipients. No specific opposition, amendments, or committee objections are provided in the record.
Same As
Removes the requirement of a disability for family members for the issuance of additional disabled person plates to family members of a severely disabled person.
Removes the requirement of a disability for family members for the issuance of additional disabled person plates to family members of a severely disabled person.
Authorizes people who transport a severely disabled person as an eligible person to receive disabled person plates; defines who qualifies as eligible persons.
Authorizes the issuance of "Blue Star Mother" and "Blue Star Family" distinctive license plates for parents and family members of active duty service members; establishes the "blue star mothers and families support fund".