HB1138

House Bill 1138 expands the categories of medical professionals authorized to certify an individual's eligibility for disabled parking permits, placards, and special license plates in Arkansas. The bill adds physical therapists to the list of 'certifying authorities,' alongside licensed physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants. It updates existing statutes to replace specific references to 'physician' with the broader term 'certifying authority' throughout the Access to Parking for Persons with Disabilities Act. The legislation also clarifies that this new authority for physical therapists does not expand their standard scope of practice. Additionally, it streamlines the recertification process for disabled parking credentials, requiring certification by a qualifying authority once every four years for non-permanent disabilities.