A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to direct the division of motor vehicles to develop a designation for drivers licenses that may be granted upon request to a person who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 20‑7 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(q2)	Deaf or Hard of Hearing Designation. – The Division shall develop, in consultation with the Department of Public Safety and the State Highway Patrol, and pursuant to this subsection, a drivers license designation that may, upon request, be granted to a person who is deaf or hard of hearing. The Division shall comply with the following requirements applicable to the designation:
(1)	At the request of a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, the Division shall place a unique numerical identifier on the front of the person's license. The unique numerical identifier placed on the license shall not include any further descriptor. The Division shall record the designation in the electronic record associated with the person's drivers license.
(2)	At the request of a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, the Division shall enter the drivers license numerical identifier and a descriptor into the electronic record of any motor vehicle registered in the same name of the deaf or hard of hearing person.
(3)	Medical certification or examination is not required to make a request pursuant to this subsection.
(4)	Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as authorizing the issuance of a drivers license to a person ineligible under G.S. 20‑9."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 17C‑6(a) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(17)	Establish minimum educational and training standards for employment and continuing education for criminal justice officers concerning drivers license and vehicle registration identifiers of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, as authorized by G.S. 20‑7(q2)."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 17E‑4(a) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(13)	Establish minimum educational and training standards for employment and continuing education for officers concerning drivers license and vehicle registration identifiers of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, as authorized by G.S. 20‑7(q2)."
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective January 1, 2018.