HB292 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ron Johnson

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Driver's licenses and similar cards, applicant for new or renewal, inclusion of documentation of deafness in records of Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency

Summary

HB292 creates a new public safety awareness license plate for deaf residents and outlines its design and eligibility.

What This Bill Does

The bill allows Alabama residents who are deaf to obtain a special public safety awareness license plate for their vehicle, issued by a judge of probate or license commissioner, and valid for five years. It requires payment of standard license fees and taxes, with ongoing fee evidence if a new plate isn’t issued. The Department of Revenue will design the plate after consulting with law enforcement, first responders, and the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, with final design approval by the Legislative Oversight Committee; the plate signals to responders that the vehicle is registered to a deaf person but does not mandate any specific words or symbols. The act also sets rules for eligibility evidence and may include additional implementation rules.

Who It Affects

• Deaf Alabama residents who own private passenger or pleasure vehicles, who can apply for and receive the new public safety awareness license plate upon meeting registration and fee requirements.
• Law enforcement and first responders, who would recognize the plate as indicating the vehicle is registered to a deaf person.
• The Department of Revenue, which designs the plate, collaborates on eligibility rules, and processes the issuance.
• Judges of probate or license commissioners, who handle the issuance of the plate upon application and compliance with motor vehicle registration laws.

Key Provisions

• Issuance of a public safety awareness license plate to Alabama residents who are deaf, upon application to the judge of probate or license commissioner and payment of standard license fees for private passenger vehicles.
• Plate is valid for five years; ongoing fees/taxes demonstrated as required by existing law if no new plate is issued.
• Department of Revenue designs the plate after consulting with law enforcement, first responders, and the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind; design must be approved by the Legislative Oversight Committee and is exempt from certain standard plate provisions.
• Design should indicate to law enforcement and first responders that the vehicle is registered to a deaf person, but does not require specific words or symbols.
• Plate issued, printed, and processed like other distinctive/personalized plates under Title 32, with rules established by the Department of Revenue for eligibility evidence and other implementation details.
• Effective January 1, 2018.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency