2025 SESSION

SENATE SUBSTITUTE

25107369D

HOUSE BILL NO. 2501

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Transportation

on February 13, 2025)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Delegate Rasoul)

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-203.3, relating to Department of Motor Vehicles; driver communication improvement program.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 46.2-203.3 as follows:

§ 46.2-203.3. Driver communication improvement program.

The Department shall develop and implement a program for the promotion, printing, and distribution of envelopes for use by drivers diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, as that term is defined in § 38.2-3418.17, to provide to a law-enforcement officer for the purpose of easing communication during a traffic stop or upon such law-enforcement officer's arrival at the scene of a traffic accident. Such envelope may (i) clearly state that the driver has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and have printed directions for law-enforcement officers on best practices for interacting with such driver; (ii) provide space for more information to be written about the driver's communication needs; (iii) be of a sufficient size to fit a vehicle registration card, vehicle insurance card, and emergency contact information; and (iv) have printed directions instructing the driver to place his proof of vehicle registration and insurance in the envelope and provide such envelope and his driver's license to law enforcement if he is ever involved in a traffic stop or traffic accident.

The Department shall not collect or store information identifying any person who has requested or received such envelope, except any information necessary to distribute such envelope to the requestor. No such information shall be stored in any form after the distribution of such envelope is complete.