McNerney Introduces Bill to Help Disabled Veterans Access Parking Benefits They Deserve

SACRAMENTO – State Senator Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, today introduced SB 1034, new legislation that will help disabled military veterans access parking benefits they deserve.

SB 1034, the Parking Equity for Disabled Veterans Act, would reform state law so that disabled veterans no longer are forced to meet stricter medical eligibility requirements than other disabled Californians to access parking benefits.

“California prides itself for how it takes care of veterans, especially those were seriously injured while defending our country or are disabled. But current California law discriminates against disabled veterans by making it tougher for them to access parking benefits,” said Sen. McNerney, who is a member of the Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. “SB 1034 ensures parity for disabled veterans seeking to obtain disabled veterans parking placards from the DMV.”

SB 1034 is sponsored by the Department of California Disabled American Veterans (DAV), a nonprofit that advocates for disabled veterans.

“SB 1034 is a necessary and equitable policy change that removes barriers for California’s most severely disabled veterans,” said California DAV Commander Armando Hernandez. “This bill appropriately aligns California law with existing federal and state disability standards and ensures that disabled veterans are not subjected to a more restrictive eligibility threshold than non-veterans with disabilities. The Department of California DAV strongly urges its passage in recognition of the service, sacrifice, and continuing needs of California’s disabled veterans.”

Current California law includes roadblocks for disabled veterans that other disabled people in the state do not have to navigate when it comes to accessing disabled parking.

Disabled veterans who want to obtain a disabled veterans license plate (DV plate) must meet tougher medical eligibility standards than disabled non-veterans who wish to obtain a disabled persons license plate (DP plate).

California rules for who qualifies as a disabled veteran for the purposes of accessing a DV plate are also stricter than federal disability standards. 

Proponents of California’s overly strict rules for disabled veterans note that DV plates include financial benefits not afforded to users of DP plates, including free vehicle registration. 

But California’s law creates unfair inequities – double standards for who qualifies as disabled and who does not. State law also undervalues the sacrifices made by veterans who served their country and are now disabled.

The inconsistencies and lack of parity within state law and between state law and federal law, along with vagueness of California’s rules, also discourage veterans from obtaining DV plates even when they qualify for them.

Without parity in California law, disabled veterans will continue to be discriminated against when it comes to accessing parking and transportation benefits.

SB 1034 ensures parking equity for disabled veterans by:

• Aligning CA’s rules for who qualifies as a disabled veteran with those who qualify as a disabled non-veteran.
• Aligning CA’s rules for who qualifies as a disabled veteran with federal disability law.
• Providing clear descriptions of mobility issues, making the rules easy for veterans to understand.
• Granting eligibility regardless of whether a veteran’s specific mobility challenge is service connected.

SB 1034 is expected to be heard in a Senate Committee in the weeks ahead.

Sen. Jerry McNerney is chair of the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee, and his 5th Senate District includes all of San Joaquin County and Alameda County’s Tri-Valley.