HB 2165: Allowing disabled purple heart recipients park free at municipal metered parking spaces - West Virginia

hb2165 s fin am _1 3-21 adopted.htm → hb2165 s fin amt _1 4-7 adopted.htm · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to replace its original content with a new version that significantly expands protections for people with mobility impairments. The new version adds provisions prohibiting public entities from requiring payment for accessible parking meters when the driver cannot walk, defines new eligibility criteria for free parking, and increases penalties for misuse of disabled parking privileges.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from primarily covering disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients to include all persons with mobility impairments who cannot walk, while also adding new protections for those unable to access parking meters.

SCOPE

Changed the bill's purpose from only covering disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients to also covering all persons with mobility impairments who cannot walk.

ELIGIBILITY

Added new eligibility criteria allowing people with mobility impairments who cannot walk to park for free at metered accessible parking spaces without paying.

REQUIREMENT

Added new requirement for a 'parking certification' letter from a medical provider certifying that the person can drive but cannot walk.

ENFORCEMENT

Modified enforcement provisions to prohibit citations for expired parking meters when proper certification is displayed and the driver cannot access the meter.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'mobility impairment,' 'public entity,' 'public facility,' 'place of public accommodation,' and 'commercial facility' to clarify who is protected.

FISCAL

Modified how fines are handled, requiring local authorities to use fine revenues first to fund volunteer enforcement programs before general revenue.

Enrolled Version → hb2165 s fin am _1 3-21 adopted.htm · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended by the Finance Committee to remove the provision allowing disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients to park for free at metered spaces, while adding extensive new provisions to expand accessibility parking protections, define terms, establish penalties for violations, and create a new exemption for people with mobility impairments who cannot access parking meters.

Scope change

The bill's scope was significantly expanded from primarily benefiting disabled veterans to broadly protecting individuals with mobility impairments, while the specific free parking benefit for veterans was removed entirely.

ELIGIBILITY

The provision allowing disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients to park for free at metered spaces in any municipality was completely removed from the bill.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added for 'public entity', 'public facility', 'place or places of public accommodation', 'commercial facility', 'accessible parking', 'parking enforcement personnel', and 'parking certification'.

ENFORCEMENT

New enforcement provisions were added including specific fines for false certification ($500), fabrication of placards ($500 per placard), misuse of placards ($500), and parking violations in accessible spaces ($200-$500 depending on conviction number).

REQUIREMENT

New requirements were added for parking certification letters that must be displayed in windshields for individuals with mobility impairments who cannot access parking meters, and provisions for volunteer enforcement programs.

EXEMPTIONS

A new exemption was created prohibiting public entities from requiring payment for accessible parking meters when the driver has a mobility impairment, cannot walk, and the meter is inaccessible within 30 feet.

TIMELINE

The original bill's effective date of 90 days from passage (July 9, 2025) was removed as the bill was amended and its status changed.

Engrossed Version → Enrolled Version · 3 edits · Apr 25, 2025

MINOR

The bill was converted from an Engrossed to an Enrolled version, adding official signatures and certification marks required for final passage. The substantive policy content regarding disabled veteran parking benefits and mobility impairment parking privileges remained unchanged from the Engrossed version.

Scope change

No substantive scope change; the bill's applicability and provisions remained identical between versions.

TECHNICAL

Added official legislative signatures, certification lines, and enrolled version formatting required for final passage.

Removed Engrossed version header navigation and committee referral information not needed in final enrolled text.

Changed bill status from 'Engrossed' to 'Enrolled' indicating final legislative approval.

Introduced Version → Engrossed Version · 3 edits · Apr 10, 2025

MINOR

The bill text itself contains no substantive policy changes. The differences between the Introduced and Engrossed versions are entirely formatting and navigational elements from the legislative website interface, not changes to the actual bill language. The core provision granting free metered parking to disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients remains identical in both versions.

TECHNICAL

Removed website navigation links and interface elements that were part of the Introduced Version display

Added website navigation links and interface elements that appear in the Engrossed Version display

Reformatted the bill text presentation from a simple document view to a website interface view with additional navigation elements

Allowing disabled purple heart recipients park free at municipal metered parking spaces

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