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1996 SESSION

961784127
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 198
Offered January 22, 1996
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the enforcement, regulation and abuse of laws relating to parking spaces for handicapped persons.
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Patron-- Behm
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, Virginia law provides for the reservation of certain motor vehicle parking for use by handicapped persons; and

WHEREAS, Virginia law further provides for issuance of special license plates, parking decals, placards, and parking permits to identify vehicles permitted to park in those spaces; and

WHEREAS, it is highly desirable to ensure that fair, clear, and uniform standards for issuance of these special license plates, decals, placards, and permits be established and that parking spaces reserved for use by handicapped persons be clearly and uniformly identified; and

WHEREAS, it is also highly desirable that all state laws and local ordinances dealing with parking spaces reserved for the handicapped be appropriately and clearly crafted and rigorously and fairly enforced so that specially reserved parking spaces are available to those who genuinely need them; and

WHEREAS, state statutes and regulations governing the identification of parking spaces reserved for use by handicapped persons are often unenforced; and

WHEREAS, recent legislation and legislative studies have helped to initiate important reforms and focus attention on the problems of handicapped parking enforcement, regulation and abuse. However, drivers continue to abuse and thwart laws intended to provide parking spaces for the disabled and enforcement has become increasingly difficult; therefore, further legislative study and reform is needed to curb continued abuse, and to ensure adequate parking spaces for persons with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, representatives of local government, advocates for the disabled and other concerned parties are interested in examining potential statutory solutions to this increasing problem and to enhance the enforcement of current Virginia law as it relates to handicapped parking; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the enforcement, regulation, and abuse of laws relating to parking spaces reserved for handicapped persons The joint subcommittee shall consist of seven members to be appointed as follows: three members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections and four members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $5,250.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1997 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for processing legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.