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House shortens driver-license suspension period for people with epilepsy in two bills
Summary
House bills 4306 and 4307 passed on third reading; sponsors said the change reduces automatic suspension from six months to three months when a physician verifies seizure control and includes provisions for special circumstances.
The Michigan House passed two related bills (House Bill 4306 and House Bill 4307) intended to shorten mandatory license-suspension periods for people who have experienced seizures.
Representative Ann VanderWaal, sponsor for HB 4306, said the package would "restore an important tool" for people with epilepsy by reducing the automatic suspension period under current law from six months to three months if a physician certifies that seizures are under control. She added that under the bills a suspension could be reduced to less than three months "if your doctor states that the seizures were caused through clear controllable means or special circumstances like a medication change." Representative DeBoer spoke for HB 4307; both bills were presented to the House as a package.
Proponents framed the package as an economic and dignity issue: VanderWaal said the six-month suspension can block students from getting to school and adults from getting to work, while a recent national study cited on the floor "found that there was no difference in the number of accidents" between three- and six-month suspension periods. The House adopted both bills by record roll-call votes; each recorded 102 aye votes and 2 nay votes. The majority floor leader moved for immediate effect on both bills, and those motions were ordered on the floor.
The bills amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to allow earlier restoration of driving privileges when medical documentation shows seizure control or special circumstances. The transcript records sponsor remarks, the roll-call tallies, and that immediate effect was ordered; implementing details (e.g., administrative process at the Secretary of State) were not discussed on the floor.
