An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in registration of vehicles, further providing for person with disability plate and placard; in fees, further providing f . . .or exemption of persons, entities and vehicles from fees; and, in powers of department and local authorities, further providing for specific powers of department and local authorities.
Summary
HB951 amends Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to update terminology and related administrative references concerning disability parking and related vehicle registration provisions. The bill replaces references to “handicap” and “handicapped” with “accessible” and “accessibility” in the sections governing disability placards, parking signage, permit programs, and department materials, and directs the Department of Transportation to phase out existing placards and issue a new series as soon as practicable.
The bill also revises a registration-fee exemption for nonprofit organizations, changing the description from organizations serving “mentally or physically handicapped or disabled persons” to organizations that principally serve individuals with mental or physical disabilities. In addition, it updates the definitions used in parking authority delegation provisions for cities of the first class, second class, second class A, and third class so that signage and permit-program references use “accessible parking” rather than “handicapped parking.” The act takes effect 60 days after enactment.
Impact
HB951 would primarily affect PennDOT’s vehicle registration and disability placard administration, as well as municipal parking authority language in Title 75. It does not appear to create a new program or change eligibility standards for disability placards or nonprofit fee exemptions; instead, it modernizes statutory terminology and requires the department to update forms, signage references, website language, and placard inventory. Local parking authorities in Pennsylvania’s various classes of cities would also need to align their materials and program descriptions with the new “accessible” terminology.
Sentiment
The available context shows no recorded committee transcript or vote history, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to indicate broad support or opposition. Based on the bill text, the measure appears largely administrative and terminology-focused, which typically suggests a low-conflict proposal aimed at updating language to be more respectful and consistent. The introduction by a large group of House members also suggests at least initial bipartisan or cross-caucus interest in the change.
Contention
No specific points of contention are reflected in the provided materials. If any concerns arise, they would likely center on the administrative burden of replacing placards, updating signage and forms, and implementing the new terminology across state and local systems. The substantive policy impact appears limited because the bill does not change who qualifies for disability-related parking benefits or nonprofit fee exemptions, but only how those groups and programs are described.
In registration of vehicles, further providing for vehicles exempt from registration; and, in licensing of drivers, further providing for persons exempt from licensing.