Committee urged to restore nurse practitioners' authority to sign disability placard forms (HB 5644)

Representative Altman introduced House Bill 56 44 and said it "restores a common sense practice" by adding nurse practitioners back to the list of providers authorized to sign disability parking placard applications.

Anne Sheehan, a pediatric nurse practitioner and assistant dean for practice innovation and professional education at Michigan State University's College of Nursing, and speaking for the Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners, described the practical consequences of the Department of State guidance that removed the authority earlier this year. Sheehan said nurse practitioners had routinely signed these forms for years and that the guidance forced patients to schedule an additional appointment with a physician to obtain a signature, sometimes resulting in extra cost, time and lost work.

Sheehan said the bill does not change eligibility criteria or enforcement; it simply permits qualified provider types to certify disability parking needs, which she said will reduce delays and unnecessary visits. "For these patients, proximity parking is not a convenience, rather it's a necessity to accommodate them and safely allow them to participate in daily life," Sheehan said.

Committee members asked whether the plate application differs from the placard application and whether forms presented to the committee were apples to apples; witnesses said they would follow up and that Department of State staff were present to answer technical questions. The chair noted David Hander from the Michigan Department of State was listed as wishing to speak in support.

The committee did not vote on HB 56 44 during this meeting.