S.B. No. 1367

	AN ACT
	relating to parking placard or specialty license plate applications
	by persons with a mobility problem caused by an impairment of
	vision.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 504.201, Transportation
	Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:
	(3)  "Practice of optometry" and "practice of
	therapeutic optometry" have the meanings assigned by Section
	351.002, Occupations Code.
	SECTION 2.  Section 504.201, Transportation Code, is amended
	by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-1) to read as
	follows:
	(d)  Except as provided by Subsection (d-1), the [The]
	initial application for specialty license plates under this section
	must be accompanied by a written statement from a physician who is
	licensed to practice medicine in this state or in a state adjacent
	to this state or who is authorized by applicable law to practice
	medicine in a hospital or other health facility of the Department of
	Veterans Affairs. If the applicant has a mobility problem caused by
	a disorder of the foot, the written statement may be issued by a
	person licensed to practice podiatry in this state or a state
	adjacent to this state. In this subsection, "podiatry" has the
	meaning assigned by Section 681.001. The statement must certify
	that the person making the application or on whose behalf the
	application is made is legally blind or has a mobility problem that
	substantially impairs the person's ability to ambulate. The
	statement must also certify whether a mobility problem is temporary
	or permanent. A written statement is not required as acceptable
	medical proof if:
	(1)  the person with a disability:
	(A)  has had a limb, hand, or foot amputated; or
	(B)  must use a wheelchair; and
	(2)  the applicant and the county assessor-collector
	processing the application execute an affidavit attesting to the
	person's disability.
	(d-1)  If the initial application for specialty license
	plates under this section is made by or on behalf of a person who is
	legally blind, the written statement required by Subsection (d) may
	be issued by a person licensed to engage in the practice of
	optometry or the practice of therapeutic optometry in this state or
	a state adjacent to this state.
	SECTION 3.  Section 681.003, Transportation Code, is amended
	by amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (f) to read as
	follows:
	(e)  If a first application for a disabled parking placard
	under this section is made by or on behalf of a person with:
	(1)  a mobility problem caused by a disorder of the
	foot, the notarized written statement or written prescription
	required by Subsection (c) may be issued by a person licensed to
	practice podiatry in this state or a state adjacent to this state;
	or
	(2)  a disability caused by an impairment of vision as
	provided by Section 681.001(2), the notarized written statement or
	written prescription required by Subsection (c) may be issued by a
	person licensed to engage in the practice of optometry or the
	practice of therapeutic optometry in this state or a state adjacent
	to this state.
	(f)  In this section, "practice of optometry" and "practice
	of therapeutic optometry" have the meanings assigned by Section
	351.002, Occupations Code.
	SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
	an application for a disabled parking placard or disabled license
	plates submitted on or after the effective date of this Act. An
	application submitted before the effective date of this Act is
	governed by the law in effect on the date the application was
	submitted, and the former law is continued in effect for that
	purpose.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1367 passed the Senate on
	April 23, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1367 passed the House on
	May 26, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 2, two present
	not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor