The requirement to reserve parking spaces for persons with physical disabilities

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk may apply for and obtain from the Department of Transportation (DOT) special motor vehicle registration plates (disabled plates) or a special identification card (disabled parking card) that affords certain parking privileges, including parking in spaces reserved for use by persons with physical disabilities (disabled parking spaces). Current law, as set forth in the traffic statutes, also requires the owner or lessee of a public building or place of employment, and the owner or lessee of a parking facility that offers parking to the public, to reserve a minimum number of disabled parking spaces if the parking area has at least 26 spaces. If the parking area is not open to the public or has fewer than 26 spaces, the owner or lessee may voluntarily reserve disabled parking spaces. Various requirements apply to reserved disabled parking spaces, including that they must be at least 12 feet wide, marked with a disabled parking sign, and maintained in inclement weather. These provisions in the traffic statutes do not affect the authority of the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) to require by rule that disabled parking spaces be reserved. Currently DSPS has adopted by rule provisions of the International Building Code (IBC), 2009 edition, that include specification of the minimum number of disabled parking spaces that must be reserved.

Also under current law, with limited exceptions, any place of employment or public building, the initial construction of which was commenced after July 1, 1970, but prior to May 27, 1976, must be so designed and constructed as to provide reasonable means of ingress and egress by the physically disabled. In addition, any place of employment or public building, the initial construction of which is commenced on or after May 27, 1976, must be designed and constructed so as to provide reasonable means of access, except: 1) when exempted by DSPS rule; or 2) with respect to parking spaces, ramps, and grade-level entrances of a building that is not more than two stories in height and is either a structure containing two or more units or two or more structures each containing one or more units on the same property (multi-unit building). DSPS must by rule provide minimum regulations to ensure access to and use of public buildings.

Who's behind it

Jerry Petrowski, a Republican, is its author⁠.

1 more lawmaker signed on in support⁠.