Relating to documents issued by the Department of Transportation.
Summary
Senate Bill 1164 would allow an Oregon resident to request that the Department of Transportation place a symbol on the person’s driver license, driver permit, or identification card indicating that the person has a disability that interferes with effective communication with a police officer. To obtain the symbol, the applicant must submit an application and provide a certificate from a listed health care professional verifying the disability. The bill also allows the symbol to be removed at renewal or replacement, and it expressly makes the request voluntary.
The measure is designed to help police officers recognize when a person may need reasonable accommodations or alternative communication methods during an encounter. It states that the presence or request for the symbol cannot be used as a basis for restricting driving privileges, and it clarifies that officers must provide reasonable accommodations and effective communication to all individuals regardless of whether the symbol is present. It also provides that showing an ID with the symbol constitutes a request for accommodations for that interaction.
Impact
SB 1164 amends ORS 807.110 to add a new optional disability-communication designation on driver licenses, permits, and identification cards, and it amends ORS 192.355 to make related Department of Transportation records confidential and exempt from public disclosure. The bill creates new application and verification requirements, defines the qualifying disability and eligible health care professionals, and authorizes ODOT to adopt implementing rules. It also adds protections limiting how the designation may be used by public bodies or private individuals, and it creates a complaint path through the Bureau of Labor and Industries for alleged violations of those protections.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of legislative debate or roll-call support/opposition in the materials supplied. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be framed as a disability-access and public-safety accommodation bill, with a generally protective and voluntary approach. Its structure suggests an intent to balance accessibility with privacy by making participation optional and by keeping request records confidential.
Contention
The main policy tensions in the bill are privacy, implementation, and the scope of the designation’s use. Supporters would likely emphasize improved communication during police encounters and the availability of accommodations for people with disabilities, while privacy concerns may focus on whether a disability marker on government ID could expose sensitive medical information or be misused. Another possible point of contention is the verification process, including which professionals may certify the disability and whether the marker could create unintended consequences in law enforcement or other government systems, despite the bill’s restrictions on use and disclosure.