NC H1149

Division of Motor Vehicles shall develop an optional unique symbol designation for driver's licenses of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, placed on the front of the license without additional descriptors.

Symbol and descriptor shall be recorded in the electronic record of the driver's license and any motor vehicle registered in the same name as the person with the disability.

Acceptable verification includes medical or mental health professional documentation, affidavit from the person or their parent/guardian, or other documentation deemed satisfactory by DMV, with consultation from the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services.

Information collected shall be available only to law enforcement for ensuring safe interactions and cannot be accessed or used for any other purpose; registration is entirely voluntary and can be removed at any time by the license holder.

Criminal justice and law enforcement officers must receive minimum educational and training standards on recognizing and appropriately interacting with persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including that these identifiers are optional.

$10,000 in nonrecurring funds appropriated to the Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles for the 2020-2021 fiscal year to implement the provisions; effective January 1, 2021.