Bill Text: CT HB05050 | 2016 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Modernizing The Symbol Of Access For Persons With Disabilities.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Passed) 2016-06-01 - Signed by the Governor [HB05050 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2016-HB05050-Chaptered.html
Substitute House Bill No. 5050
AN ACT MODERNIZING THE SYMBOL OF ACCESS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than January 1, 2017, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall promulgate a policy and adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, designating the symbol of access to be used on signage indicating access for persons with disabilities. Such symbol shall depict a logo with a dynamic character leaning forward with a sense of movement, be readily identifiable and be simply designed with no secondary meaning. Such symbol shall signify equivalent facilitation and accessibility as the previously used international symbol of access.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Beginning January 1, 2017, any reference to the international symbol of accessibility in the State Building Code shall be deemed to mean the symbol of access, as defined in subsection (a) of section 14-253a of the general statutes, as amended by this act. The symbol of access shall be used for all buildings and structures constructed, substantially renovated or expanded on or after January 1, 2017.
Sec. 3. Subsection (a) of section 14-253a of the 2016 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2017):
(a) For the purposes of this section:
(1) "Special license plate" means a license plate displaying the [international] symbol of access in a size identical to that of the letters or numerals on the plate and in a color that contrasts with the background color of the plate;
(2) "Removable windshield placard" means a two-sided, hanger-style placard which bears on both of its sides: (A) The [international] symbol of access in a height of three inches or more centered on such placard and colored white on a blue background; (B) a unique identification number; (C) a date of expiration; and (D) a statement indicating that the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles issued such placard;
(3) "Temporary removable windshield placard" means a placard that is the same as a removable windshield placard except that the [international] symbol of access appears on a red background; [and]
(4) "Person with disabilities" means a person with disabilities which limit or impair the ability to walk, as defined in 23 CFR Section 1235. 2; and
(5) "Symbol of access" means the symbol designated by the Commissioner of Administrative Services pursuant to section 1 of this act used to indicate access for persons with disabilities.
Sec. 4. Subsection (c) of section 14-253a of the 2016 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2017):
(c) Any person who meets the requirements to obtain a removable windshield placard pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and who has a motorcycle registered in such person's name shall be issued, upon approval of the application, number plates in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of section 14-21b, which shall bear letters or numerals or any combination thereof followed by the [international access] symbol of access. The registration of any motorcycle for which a special license plate is issued shall expire and be renewed as provided in section 14-22 and be subject to the fee provisions of section 14-49. No person shall be issued such number plates for the registration of more than two motorcycles. Any person eligible to obtain a special license plate pursuant to this section who transfers the expired registration of a motorcycle owned by such person and replaces such number plate with a special license plate shall be exempt from payment of any fee for such transfer or replacement. A person who obtains a special plate or plates under this subsection may also obtain a removable windshield placard in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.
Sec. 5. Subsection (h) of section 14-253a of the 2016 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2017):
(h) Parking spaces designated for persons who are blind and persons with disabilities on or after October 1, 1979, and prior to October 1, 2004, shall be as near as possible to a building entrance or walkway and shall be fifteen feet wide including three feet of cross hatch, or parallel to a sidewalk on a public highway. On and after October 1, 2004, parking spaces for passenger motor vehicles designated for persons who are blind and persons with disabilities shall be as near as possible to a building entrance or walkway and shall be fifteen feet wide including five feet of cross hatch. On and after October 1, 2004, parking spaces for passenger vans designated for persons who are blind and persons with disabilities shall be as near as possible to a building entrance or walkway and shall be sixteen feet wide including eight feet of cross hatch. Such spaces shall be designated by above grade signs with white lettering against a blue background and shall bear the words "handicapped parking permit required" and "violators will be fined". Such sign shall also bear the international symbol of access. [When] On and after January 1, 2017, whenever such a sign is replaced, repaired or erected it shall bear the words "reserved parking permit required" and "violators will be fined", bear the symbol of access and indicate the minimum fine for a violation of subsection (f) of this section. Such indicator may be in the form of a notice affixed to such a sign.
Sec. 6. Subsection (a) of section 14-325b of the 2016 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2017):
(a) Each retail dealer as defined in section 14-318 that offers self-service and full-service facilities for the sale of gasoline or motor fuel shall provide, at a self-service pump, upon request, refueling service to a handicapped driver of a vehicle that bears a special [international symbol of access] license plate or a removable windshield placard issued pursuant to section 14-253a, as amended by this act, at a price no greater than that which such dealer would charge the public to purchase gasoline or motor fuel without any refueling service.