SF4893

Purpose

This bill updates how accessible parking is enforced in Minnesota. It aims to make it easier for people with disabilities to park legally, add postpartum and pregnant individuals to the group that can use accessible parking, create a statewide citizen-driven enforcement program, and fund outreach and rulemaking to improve disability parking accessibility.

Main Provisions and What the Bill Seeks to Accomplish

• Accessibility and parking space standards

  • Accessible parking spaces must be clearly marked with signs that use the international symbol of access (ISA) in white on a blue background.
  • Violators can be fined up to $200.
  • Signs and spaces must remain visible and kept clear of snow and obstructions; spaces must be nonmovable.
  • By August 1, 2024, the Minnesota Council on Disability must select and propose a statewide uniform disability parking space sign that does not use the word “handicapped.”
  • By August 1, 2025, property owners/managers must install the new uniform sign when creating new spaces or replacing existing signs.
  • All new or resurfaced parking lots must meet a standard where at least 10% of spaces are disability spaces, with the rule to apply to all lots by June 30, 2031.
  • Signs marking access aisles must warn that unauthorized parking in an access aisle is subject to penalties.

• Definitions and eligibility

  • Defines “physically disabled person” with several medical criteria (e.g., significant walking limitations, use of assistive devices, severe respiratory or cardiac conditions, legal blindness).
  • Pregnant people or postpartum people within 45 days of giving birth experiencing any of the defined conditions are eligible for parking privileges.

• Penalties for obstructing accessible spaces

  • Property owners/managers must keep spaces and access aisles free of obstructions. If they fail to do so, they can be charged with a misdemeanor and fined up to $500 per day for each obstruction.

• Local citizen enforcement program (statewide rollout)

  • Cities can adopt ordinances to create a citizen-based program to enforce parking restrictions for physically disabled spaces.
  • The program uses trained citizen volunteers to issue citations and is designed to be in collaboration with the Minnesota Council on Disability.
  • Volunteers are exempt from certain police officer training/licensure requirements.
  • A digital reporting portal will be available for reporting violations.
  • A $25 surcharge is added to all fines issued under the citizen enforcement program.
  • Revenue split: 50% goes to the agency administering the citation; 50% goes to an accessible parking citizen enforcement program account to fund education, awareness, and grants to improve accessibility.
  • Funds: money in the program account is annually appropriated—first for administration, then to the Minnesota Council on Disability for education, outreach, and grants to improve accessibility.

• Funding and appropriation

  • A one-time appropriation of $250,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the Department of Transportation to implement the accessible parking citizen enforcement program.
  • A one-time appropriation of $75,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the Minnesota Council on Disability to coordinate with the Department of Transportation and support awareness and operation of the program.

• Rulemaking

  • The Department of Labor and Industry must amend rules to require at least 10% of parking spaces to be disability spaces, applying to new and resurfaced/repainted lots starting July 1, 2027 and all lots by June 30, 2031.
  • Rules must require warning signs on access aisles about penalties for unauthorized use.
  • The department can use a good cause exemption in adopting these rules.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Expands who can use accessible parking to include pregnant and postpartum individuals within 45 days of birth who meet disability criteria.
• Establishes a statewide citizen enforcement program to issue citations for disability parking violations (training, digital reporting, and revenue-sharing framework).
• Creates new funding streams and one-time appropriations to support enforcement, education, and outreach.
• Requires a statewide rollout of a uniform disability parking sign and a regulated percentage of disability spaces (10%) across parking facilities, with a phased timeline through 2031.
• Adds higher penalties for obstructing a designated disability parking space ($500 per day).

Timeline and Implementation Notes

• By Aug 1, 2024: Minnesota Council on Disability selects and proposes a statewide uniform disability parking sign (no “handicapped” term).
• By Aug 1, 2025: New uniform signs must be installed whenever new spaces are created or existing signs are replaced.
• By July 1, 2027 to June 30, 2031: 10% of spaces must be disability spaces across parking lots, with full enforcement standards applying by 2031.
• 2027: One-time funding provided for implementation and coordination.

Relevant Terms

accessible parking disability parking international symbol of access (ISA) uniform disability parking space sign pregnant person postpartum person physically disabled person obstruction penalty parking space obstruction citizen enforcement program citizen volunteers digital reporting portal parking fines Minnesota Council on Disability Department of Labor and Industry Department of Transportation rulemaking signage access aisles warning sign up to $200 fine up to $500 per day fine 10% parking spaces requirement onetime appropriation awareness and grants for accessibility