HB 5541 Summary

• Adds "communication impediment" designation to official state personal identification cards for individuals with health conditions that may impede communication with police officers, including deafness, hearing loss, and autism spectrum disorder.

• Requires applicants seeking the communication impediment designation to provide certification signed by a licensed physician, physician assistant, certified nurse practitioner, or physical therapist attesting to their condition.

• Allows law enforcement agencies in Michigan to view the communication impediment designation through the L.E.I.N. system or similar law enforcement access system.

• Prohibits displaying the communication impediment designation on the face of the card itself, and allows the secretary of state to cancel or revoke the designation if fraudulently obtained or abused during traffic stops.

• Makes the act effective July 1, 2021, and clarifies that individuals with communication impediments can indicate they are deaf on their identification cards.