89R1722 MZM-D     By: Hernandez H.B. No. 1995       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the notification of a peace officer through an   indication associated with vehicle registration that the vehicle   owner may be transporting a person with a disability.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,   is amended by adding Section 502.062 to read as follows:          Sec. 502.062.  REGISTRATION BY OWNER WHO TRANSPORTS   PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES. (a) In this section, "person with a   disability" means a person with:                (1)  a physical, intellectual, behavioral, or   cognitive impairment;                (2)  autism; or                (3)  a health condition or disability that may impede   effective communication with a peace officer.          (b)  An application for registration must provide space for   the applicant to voluntarily indicate that the applicant may   transport a person with a disability. The department may request   from a person who makes an indication under this subsection   verification in the form of a personal attestation.          (c)  The department shall provide to the Department of Public   Safety the vehicle registration information of a person who   voluntarily indicated on an application under Subsection (b) that   the person may transport a person with a disability. The department   may not provide to the Department of Public Safety information that   shows the type of health condition or disability a person has.          (d)  The Department of Public Safety shall establish a system   to include information received under Subsection (c) in the Texas   Law Enforcement Telecommunications System for the purpose of   alerting a peace officer who makes a traffic stop that the operator   of the stopped vehicle may be transporting a person with a   disability.          (e)  The Department of Public Safety may not make information   received under Subsection (c) available in the Texas Law   Enforcement Telecommunications System to a person who has access to   the system under a contract unless the contract prohibits the   person from disclosing that information to a person who is not   subject to the contract.          (f)  The department may not issue to a person without the   person's consent a license plate with a visible marking that   indicates to the general public that the person voluntarily   indicated on an application under Subsection (b) that the person   may transport a person with a disability.          (g)  Except as provided by Subsection (e), information   supplied to the department relating to a person with a disability is   for the confidential use of the department and the Department of   Public Safety and may not be disclosed to any person.          SECTION 2.  A Department of Public Safety contract that   allows a person to access the Texas Law Enforcement   Telecommunications System and that is in effect before the   effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the   date on which the contract was entered into, and that law is   continued in effect for that purpose, except that the contract:                (1)  continues only for the term of the contract; and                (2)  may not be renewed unless the renewed contract   includes the prohibition required by Section 502.062(e),   Transportation Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.