Subcommittee advances bill for ‘Just Be’ license plate and first‑responder autism training

Case Britton, chairman of the South Carolina House General Laws Subcommittee, reported H.3285 — the law enforcement education credits measure that would authorize a “Just Be” license plate and related first‑responder training — favorably to the full committee on a voice/roll call vote.

The proposal would create an optional specialty license plate intended to signal to law enforcement and other first responders that a vehicle may contain a person who is autistic or neurodivergent, and it would pair that identifier with training for police, sheriffs and firefighters so responders understand how to de‑escalate encounters and recognize sensory and communication differences.

Proponents told the subcommittee the plate and training aim to reduce dangerous misunderstandings during traffic stops, medical calls and emergency responses. Leila Luna, founder of the nonprofit Just Be, described personal experiences with her nonverbal son and said visual identification plus training can prevent harmful interactions: “Our plate … is the first plate as an identifier in this nation,” Luna told the subcommittee, adding that training without an identifier “we cannot protect our loved ones like my son.”

Representative Kathy Landing, sponsor of the bill, said the measure grew from prior work to create a commemorative license tag and expanded into a safety proposal. She told the committee the plate would carry a distinctive bumblebee icon and be available to individuals, parents and guardians.

County officials and public safety representatives asked for coordination with existing local programs. Kent Lassane, director of governmental affairs for the South Carolina Association of Counties, told the panel some counties already run internal autism‑awareness training and asked that the bill accommodate local curricula so existing programs can continue. Sally Foster, representing the Sheriffs Association, said she had discussed the proposal with Jackie Swindler, executive director of the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy (CJA), and that the academy is willing to include relevant training during its traffic‑week sessions and work with local agencies to implement training statewide.

Luna and others cited statistics and program details during testimony — for example, numbers they referenced about prevalence and past trainings — and described local training efforts, including work with Hanahan and Mount Pleasant firefighters and planned training in North Charleston and Mount Pleasant. Luna said one provider had trained 95 Mount Pleasant firefighters and that CJA certification efforts were planned; the transcript reflects those counts as testimony from proponents rather than as committee findings.

On the required roll call, members present voted to give H.3285 a favorable report to the full committee. The subcommittee did not adopt an implementing funding mechanism at this meeting; committee members signaled an intent to coordinate with CJA and county training officials as the bill moves forward.

The bill now goes to the full General Laws Committee for further consideration.