Bill would let physical and occupational therapists certify disability parking placards

Senator John Steinbeck introduced Senate Bill 113 to the Assembly Committee on Growth and Infrastructure, proposing to add physical therapists and occupational therapists to the list of practitioners authorized to certify applications for disability parking placards, plates and stickers.

The change, supporters said, aims to reduce administrative and financial burdens on patients who currently must often return to a physician to have paperwork signed. If enacted, the bill would let qualified physical and occupational therapists directly certify that a patient meets the functional standards required under current DMV rules for a placard or plate.

Steinbeck said the current process limits certification to “licensed physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses,” creating “unnecessary hurdles” for people with disabilities. “This bill really is just a, make people's life a little bit easier bill,” he said. Paul Young, representing the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Nevada chapter, and Susan Priestman, president of APTA Nevada, testified the professions have the training and patient access to evaluate functional limitations without requiring an extra physician visit.

Priestman described physical therapists as “direct access practitioners” trained at the doctorate level who work across settings and assess mobility and functional status. She said the bill covers temporary, intermediate and permanent time frames and that the Nevada Physical Therapy Board submitted supportive public comments. “By expanding the list of authorized practitioners to include physical therapists and occupational therapists, we can reduce unnecessary physician visits and the associated costs while improving access for patients,” Priestman said.

Paul Young noted the Senate amendment in the bill’s section 21 that would allow an office staff member to fill out paperwork to ease administrative burdens, with an authorized provider signing the form.

Sean Severs of the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles testified in neutral and told the committee the DMV saw “no impact on SB113” to its operations and could absorb adding therapists into “existing policies, procedures, and forms.” No fiscal impact to the DMV was identified in the hearing record.

Assemblymember Brown May clarified the bill’s legal context, noting the change concerns the DMV rules in “section 482 of NRS,” which govern placards and the functional standard used for eligibility (Brown May said the chapter’s walking-distance threshold is commonly described as about 200 feet). Brown May asked and was told the bill specifically targets the DMV placard/plate process rather than creating a broader medical-licensing change.

No formal vote or final action on the bill was recorded in the hearing. Committee Chair Watts closed the hearing after taking no public testimony in support, opposition, or neutral testimony beyond the presenters and DMV staff. The bill will return later in the legislative process for further committee action.

Ending: The committee heard SB113 and accepted presentation and neutral testimony from the DMV; presenters said the measure would make the certification process more efficient for people with mobility limitations. The committee closed the hearing with no recorded vote.