Handicapped parking permit changes proposed

The Urban Affairs Committee heard testimony Jan. 29 on a bill that would amend provisions for temporary handicapped parking permits.

Under LB31, introduced by Kearney Sen. Galen Hadley, a medical professional could issue a temporary handicapped parking permit for either a three- or six-month period. The permit could be renewed once and could not exceed one year.

Currently, a temporary permit may be issued for up to six months and may be renewed once.

Hadley said the bill would make the handicapped parking permit process more efficient.

Beverly Neth, director of the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles, testified in support of the bill, saying the healing time of a temporarily injured person can be hard for physicians to predict. In such cases, she said, a temporary permit may be issued only twice before a permanent permit is issued.

Requiring a minimum of three months could reduce permanent handicapped permits that are issued for temporarily injured individuals, she added.

No one testified in opposition and the committee took no immediate action on the bill.