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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Boitano

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/29/07

HB

SHORT TITLE Parking Placards for Pregnant Women

SB 172

ANALYST Earnest

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

NFI

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Taxation and Revenue Department (TRD)

Governor’s Commission on Disability (GCD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 172 would require TRD to issue parking placards to pregnant women that would al-

low them to park in designated disabled person parking spaces for up to one year. To receive the

placard, a pregnant woman would be required to submit a written application to the department

containing medical statements from a licensed physician attesting to the pregnancy.

The bill also clarifies language in Section 66-3-16 NMSA 1978 pertaining to special registration

plates issued to individuals with impaired motility.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no significant fiscal implications.

Senate Bill 172 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

According to the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities, doctors recommend pregnant women

do more walking during their pregnancy, especially during the first six months of pregnancy.

Under this legislation a woman could be issued a parking placard when they are two weeks preg-

nant. Pregnant woman usually can perform normal activities through their third trimester. This

legislation grants placard for twelve months. By allowing a woman to have a parking placard, it

would not only defeat the doctor’s recommendation but could also displace someone who has a

severe mobility impairment from being able to use an accessible parking place.

Under current law, pregnant women with mobility impairments can obtain a written medical

statement from a licensed physician.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

TRD estimates that administrative costs of implementing the proposed legislation would be rela-

tively minor and the duties could be performed with resources currently available to the depart-

ment.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

TRD suggests the following changes and issues:

1) The proposed legislation could benefit from language clarifying use of disabled person parking plac-

ards.

2) The proposed legislation could also benefit from language indicating physical appearance of the pro-

posed placards.

3) It is unclear whether the placards would be accepted in all jurisdictions of the state.

BE/nt