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HLS 26RS-541 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 679
BY REPRESENTATIVE VENTRELLA
MTR VEHICLE/DRIVER LIC: Provides for a special identification card designation for
citizens with traumatic brain injury
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 40:1321(T) and (U) and to enact R.S. 40:1321(V), relative to
3 special identification card designations; to provide for the establishment of a
4 traumatic brain injury special identification card designation; to provide for the
5 criteria for obtaining the designation for new applicants and renewals; to provide for
6 penalties for persons making false statements to obtain a traumatic brain injury
7 special designation; to require the implementation of a law enforcement officer
8 training course; to provide for rulemaking; and to provide for related matters.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 40:1321(T) and (U) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
11 40:1321(V) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
12 §1321. State identification cards; special identification cards; issuance; veteran
13 designation; special needs or accommodation designations; traumatic brain
14 injury designation; fees; expiration and renewal; exceptions; promulgation
15 of rules; promotion of use; persons less than twenty-one years of age; the
16 Protect and Save our Children Program; Selective Service Registration
17 * * *
18 T.(1) Upon request of an applicant for a special identification card, a
19 designation that the applicant has traumatic brain injury shall be exhibited on the
20 special identification card upon presentation of a statement from a qualified medical
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-541 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 679
1 or mental health professional licensed in Louisiana or any other state or territory of
2 the United States verifying the applicant's disability as established by administrative
3 rule. The qualified medical or mental health professional shall be authorized to
4 diagnose traumatic brain injury. No additional fee shall be charged to include such
5 designation.
6 (2) Upon the renewal of a special identification card, an applicant who has
7 traumatic brain injury shall provide a statement from a qualified medical or mental
8 health professional licensed in Louisiana or any other state or territory of the United
9 States verifying the applicant's disability as established by administrative rule.
10 (3) Any person who has not been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury who
11 willfully and falsely represents himself as having the qualifications to obtain the
12 special designation authorized by this Subsection shall be fined not less than one
13 hundred dollars nor more than two hundred fifty dollars, or shall be imprisoned for
14 not more than thirty days, or both. Any subsequent offense shall result in a fine of
15 not less than two hundred fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, or
16 imprisonment for not more than ninety days, or both.
17 (4) In addition to the training requirements contained in R.S. 40:2404.2(C),
18 the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, public safety services, shall
19 establish and implement a law enforcement training course relative to law
20 enforcement officers' interaction with persons with traumatic brain injury. The
21 course shall instruct law enforcement officers on sensitivity and awareness to ensure
22 equitable treatment and how to effectively communicate and interact with persons
23 with traumatic brain injury. At a minimum, the course shall include the following:
24 (a) Identification of indicators that a person has traumatic brain injury.
25 (b) Identification of procedures that an officer should employ when
26 encountering a person with traumatic brain injury.
27 (c) Demonstrations of communication and interactive techniques required
28 to effectively interact with a person with traumatic brain injury.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-541 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 679
1 (d) Explanations that provide law enforcement officers with an
2 understanding of the traumatic brain injury and examples of unexpected actions that
3 could potentially be taken by persons diagnosed with traumatic brain injury.
4 (e) Explanations of the resources available to assist an officer encountering
5 a person with traumatic brain injury.
6 (f) Descriptions of the procedures an officer should use to ensure compliance
7 with the Americans with Disabilities Act when encountering a person with traumatic
8 brain injury.
9 (5) The deputy secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections,
10 public safety services, shall promulgate rules and regulations as necessary to
11 implement the provisions of this Subsection, including a waiver of liability for the
12 release of any medical information. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S.
13 49:966(B)(12), the House and Senate committees on transportation, highways and
14 public works shall have oversight of the adoption of rules and regulations required
15 by this Subsection.
16 T. U. No fee shall be charged for transactions to issue a duplicate special
17 identification card to correct an address due to the renaming of a street or highway
18 in accordance with a parish or municipal ordinance.
19 U. V. Every state identification card issued by OMV shall include the words
20 "Crisis Lifeline dial 988".
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 679 Original 2026 Regular Session Ventrella
Abstract: Creates a special identification card indication for citizens with traumatic brain
injury designation.
Proposed law establishes the application process for obtaining a traumatic brain injury
designation on a special identification card for new applicants and renewals.
Proposed law requires a traumatic brain injury designation be displayed on a special
identification card upon receipt of a statement from a qualified medical or mental health
professional licensed in La. or any other state or territory of the U.S. verifying the applicant's
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-541 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 679
disability as established by administrative rule. Further requires the qualified medical or
mental health professional be authorized to diagnose traumatic brain injury.
Proposed law specifies that no additional fee can be charged to include the traumatic brain
injury designation.
Proposed law specifies that any person who has not been diagnosed with traumatic brain
injury who makes a false statement of having the qualification to obtain the special
designation will be fined not less than $100 nor more than $250, or be imprisoned for not
more than 30 days, or both. Further, requires any subsequent offense carry a fine of not less
than $250 nor more than $500, or imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both.
Proposed law requires the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C), public safety
services, to establish and implement a law enforcement training course relative to law
enforcement officers' interactions with persons who have traumatic brain injury, in addition
to the requirements of present law.
Proposed law requires the course instruct law enforcement officers on sensitivity and
awareness to ensure equitable treatment and how to effectively communicate and interact
with persons who have traumatic brain injury.
Proposed law requires the course include identification of indicators that a person has
traumatic brain injury; identification of procedures that an officer should employ when
encountering a person who has traumatic brain injury; demonstrations of communication and
interactive techniques required to effectively interact with a person who has traumatic brain
injury; explanations that provide law enforcement officers with an understanding of
traumatic brain injury and examples of unexpected actions that could potentially be taken
by persons diagnosed with traumatic brain injury; explanations of the resources available to
assist an officer encountering a person with traumatic brain injury; and descriptions of the
procedures an officer should use to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities
Act when encountering a person with traumatic brain injury.
Proposed law authorizes the deputy secretary of the DPS&C to promulgate rules and
regulations to implement the provisions of proposed law. Provides rule oversight authority
to the House and Senate committees on transportation, highways and public works.
(Amends R.S. 40:1321(T) and (U); Adds R.S. 40:1321(V))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.