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, the State Highway Patrol, the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 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.
(5)	Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as prohibiting the issuance of a drivers license to a person otherwise eligible under the law.
(6)	Any individual who chooses to register or not to register shall not be deemed to have waived any protections under the law."
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:
a.	Recognizing and appropriately interacting with persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
b.	Drivers license and vehicle registration identifiers of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, as authorized by G.S. 20‑7(q2), including that those identifiers are optional."
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:
a.	Recognizing and appropriately interacting with persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
b.	Drivers license and vehicle registration identifiers of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, as authorized by G.S. 20‑7(q2), including that those identifiers are optional."
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective January 1, 2018.