The Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee met Wednesday morning and advanced four bills regarding communication between law enforcement and community members, Gold Star Family license plates, automobile dealers, and the Division of Motor Vehicles.
House Bill 4053 would establish the Blue Envelope Program.
This program is designed to promote inclusivity and foster communication between law enforcement and community members who have a condition or disability that may require additional accommodations or awareness.
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder, dementia, or intellectual and developmental disabilities would receive a blue-colored envelope.
Each Blue Envelope would have the following:
- State the diagnosis of the individual and provide directions for law enforcement officers for best practice when interacting with the individual.
- Driver’s communication needs and recommendations for law enforcement officers with interaction techniques.
- Blank area where the individual or their emergency contact may add additional noteworthy comments pertaining to the individual’s needs or requested accommodation, and contact information of the emergency contact person.
- Be a sufficient size to fit into the glove compartment of a motor vehicle and be able to hold a driver’s license, vehicle registration card, vehicle insurance card, and other related documents.
- Have printed directions instructing the driver to place their proof of vehicle registration and insurance in the envelope and provide such envelope and their driver’s license to law enforcement if they’re involved in a traffic stop or traffic accident.
The West Virginia State Police shall not store or collect information identifying any person who has requested an envelope.
The bill was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage, first being sent to the committee on Health and Human Resources.
House Bill 4437 would provide one free Gold Star Family license plate to Gold Star parents in West Virginia.
The bill would expand existing military plate provisions to ensure parents of fallen service members receive the same benefit already available to Gold Star spouses.
Under the bill, a qualifying Gold Star Parent, defined as a mother or father of a veteran eligible for a Gold Star lapel pin under federal law, would be exempt from all registration fees for one personal vehicle plate.
Gold Star spouses would continue to receive the same exemption, and applicants would still be required to provide proper documentation to verify eligibility.
The bill was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage.
House Bill 4881 would modify the process for automobile dealers, licensed automobile auctions, motor vehicle repair facilities, and towing companies seeking titles for abandoned or junked vehicles left on their property.
The bill would remove the existing loan value limitation currently included in the statute.
Under current law, a business may only obtain a certificate of title if the vehicle’s loan value is $9,500 or less. This bill would eliminate that cap, allowing eligible businesses to apply for a title and registration regardless of the vehicle’s value.
The bill was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage.
House Bill 4976 would clarify the requirements that must be met before the Division of Motor Vehicles approves and produces special organizational license plates.
An organization would be required to submit a formal application, a proposed plate design, and collect at least 100 completed applications for Class A vehicles or 50 for Class G vehicles before production could start.
The bill was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage.
