South Carolina subcommittee advances bill for ‘Just Be’ license plate and first-responder autism training

Representative Kathy Landing, sponsor of H.3285, told the General Law Subcommittee that the bill would authorize a “Just Be” specialty license plate and promote training for first responders to recognize and safely interact with autistic and neurodivergent people.

The measure matters because supporters say a visible identifier plus training could reduce dangerous misunderstandings during traffic stops, emergencies and other encounters involving people who may be nonverbal or who react differently to sensory input.

Landing, who represents District 80 (Mount Pleasant, Charleston County), described the plate as paired with a training program for law enforcement, sheriffs and firefighters. “It’s so much more than that,” Landing said, adding the plate and training aim to “save lives and help the safety on our roads and for our families.”

Leila Luna, founder of the nonprofit Just Be, delivered emotional testimony about encounters involving her nonverbal 16-year-old son, Rio. “There is no look to autism,” Luna said. She described being pulled over and a subsequent scuffle in which she said she received a wrist injury. Luna cited prevalence figures during her remarks, saying current Centers for Disease Control rates show about 1 in 36 children and that roughly 75,000 people in South Carolina are diagnosed with autism.

Luna said the plate is intended to be a quick visual cue that would prompt officers to use de-escalation techniques, reduce sirens and lights, involve caregivers when possible and avoid immediate physical restraint except as a last resort. “Without training, we cannot protect our loved ones like my son. We cannot protect our officers,” she said.

Kent Lassane, director of governmental affairs for the South Carolina Association of Counties, told the committee some counties already offer local training and asked that the bill accommodate jurisdictions that maintain their own curricula. Jackie Swindler, executive director of the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, was cited by committee members as willing to incorporate autism-awareness material into the academy’s traffic-week offerings and to coordinate statewide training.

Chairman Case Bridal called for questions from the committee and, after testimony and discussion, ordered a roll call. The subcommittee recorded affirmative responses and reported H.3285 favorably to the full committee for further consideration.

Supporters said the bill pairs a visible identifier with standardized training so officers statewide will have an expected response when encountering the plate; opponents or reservation-holders were not recorded during the hearing.

The bill will be scheduled for the full committee, where members will receive the subcommittee report and any recommended revisions.