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Survivors urge lawmakers to add brain-injury designation on IDs and require training for officers
Summary
Supporters of House Bill 1244 told the Senate Transportation Committee that adding a brain-injury designation to state IDs and requiring law-enforcement training would prevent dangerous encounters and improve outcomes for survivors; the committee reported the bill favorably without objection after emotional testimony.
Representative Ventrella presented House Bill 1244 to allow a designation on Louisiana state driver’s licenses indicating a person has a brain injury and to require law-enforcement training by the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement (LCLE) on interacting with people who have brain injuries.
Kim Smith, who identified herself as the caregiver to a brain-injury survivor, and her son BJ Smith, who described his lived experience, gave emotional testimony. Kim Smith detailed decades of caring for family members with brain injuries and said mandated training and an ID designation could avert escalation during police encounters. BJ Smith described how an identification designation would translate into more patience and better outcomes during interactions with first responders and law enforcement and said his recovery work led to the BrainArt Alliance.
Senators praised the testimony, noted unanimous committee support and asked sponsors to coordinate follow-up during House health-and-welfare discussions. The measure was reported favorably without objection and sponsors invited coauthors and additional stakeholder input before floor consideration.
