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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | November 30, 2021 02:07 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Joe Webster |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Helping People with Temporary Disabilities Obtain Parking Placards |
Many Pennsylvanians who qualify for a temporary disability parking placard face such a bureaucratic delay that they are recovered before one is issued. That is an absurd result that forces qualified recipients to struggle with every day tasks and risk further injury. To guarantee that Pennsylvanians can obtain a placard with ease, I will be introducing legislation that expands PennDOT’s Temporary Placard Issuance Program for Health Care Facilities. My legislation would provide that every qualified health care facility may distribute placards upon application to do so, as well as expand the definition of “health care providers” to include licensed occupational and physical therapists. This way, more specialists can certify an individual’s disability so that they may qualify for a placard. Whether someone is recuperating from a surgery or learning to walk with a cast, adjusting to a temporary disability can be difficult. That is why temporary disability parking placards are used to assist individuals during their healing process. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) currently administers a Temporary Placard Issuance Program for Health Care Facilities, with over 60 participating facilities that can certify an individual’s disability and provide them with a placard during a single appointment. While this has enabled many individuals to quickly receive the help they need, thousands of applicants do not live near participating facilities. As a result, they must undergo a lengthy and inconvenient process to apply for a temporary placard through PennDOT after having their disability certified by a qualified health care provider or law enforcement officer. Receiving a temporary disability parking placard should not be a drawn-out or burdensome process. As elected representatives, we owe it to our community members to find ways to improve the application process so it is accessible, easy, and efficient. By enabling all qualified health care facilities, everyone will have access to same-day placards across the state. I ask that you please join me in increasing availability and reducing wait-times by allowing health care facilities to distribute temporary disability parking placards. Your consideration is greatly appreciated. |
Introduced as HB2244