House Bill 497 Summary

• Establishes the Yellow Dot Motor Vehicle Medical Information Act to assist drivers, passengers, emergency responders, and law enforcement with access to critical medical information during accidents or emergencies.

• Authorizes the Department of Health and Welfare to develop the yellow dot program, accept donations and grants for implementation, and create a standard medical information form containing participant name, photo, emergency contacts, medical conditions, allergies, medications, hospital preference, and preferred physicians.

• Permits emergency medical responders and other responders at accident or emergency scenes to search vehicles with yellow dot decals for medical information folders and use that information to identify participants, assess medical conditions, contact emergency contacts, and inform treatment decisions.

• Allows law enforcement officers during traffic stops to review yellow dot folders with driver or passenger consent if they reasonably believe a medical condition is affecting the encounter, but prohibits the yellow dot decal itself from providing probable cause for vehicle stops or searches.

• Provides liability protections for emergency responders, other responders, and health care providers who act in good faith under the program, and establishes participation as free with no fees charged.