Rep. Heather Scott introduces measure to remove 'Yellow Dot' program from state code

Rep. Heather Scott introduced RS31902, a request statute to remove the Yellow Dot Program from state code, telling the House Health and Welfare Committee the program lacks oversight, participation tracking and dedicated funding.

Scott said the Yellow Dot Program, enacted around 2020, asked participants to provide medical information to state systems and placed a yellow decal on a vehicle so emergency medical services could look up that information. “Maybe it had a great idea, but it’s really something government shouldn’t be involved in,” Scott said, adding that EMS personnel “are trained for this kind of stuff” and would “go right to the problem.”

Why it matters: The proposal would strike the chapter of code that created the program and remove related provisions from statute, a change that affects how the state documents and makes available emergency medical information for motorists. Scott said she checked with the Health and Welfare Department and that the department did not object to removing the law.

The committee received a question from Representative Rebelle seeking additional details about how the program works; Scott said she could return for a hearing to provide more information and that committee members should have the statutory language in their packet. Representative Redmond moved to introduce RS31902. The chair called for a voice vote and the motion passed; the RS was introduced for further action.

The sponsor signaled an intention to appear again to explain the program in greater detail at a later hearing. No formal committee vote on repeal or on substantive changes to the code occurred at the meeting beyond the vote to introduce the request statute.