HBA-MSH C.S.S.B. 777 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.S.B. 777 By: Barrientos Transportation 4/17/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, a person applying for a disabled parking placard must provide a statement from a licensed physician certifying that the person has a mobility problem that substantially impairs the person's ability to walk. Podiatrists are not licensed as physicians, but by nature of the profession, podiatrists are often in a position to evaluate a person's ability to walk. C.S.S.B. 777 allows a statement by a podiatrist to be used as proof of a mobility problem when applying for a disabled parking placard or registering a vehicle for use by or transportation of a person with a permanent disability. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS C.S.S.B. 777 amends the Transportation Code to authorize an individual with a mobility problem caused by a disorder of the foot who is first applying for a disabled parking placard or registering a vehicle as a person with a permanent disability or anyone applying on such an individual's behalf to provide a notarized written statement or written prescription from a licensed podiatrist to certify and provide acceptable evidence of a mobility problem. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.S.B. 777 amends the original by authorizing a person with a mobility problem caused by a disorder of the foot who is first registering a vehicle as a person with a permanent disability or anyone applying on such an individuals's behalf to provide a notarized written statement from a licensed podiatrist certifying the mobility problem