Senate votes to help out Oregon’s ‘Wounded Warriors’
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SB 1506 provides free parking placards for certain disabled veterans
SALEM – The Oregon Senate passed a bill today that will create a parking permit to make life a little easier for the state’s “wounded warriors.”
Senate Bill 1506 – which passed the Senate today – creates a “Oregon Wounded Warrior” parking permit for veterans with a service-related total disability of at least 50 percent. The permit would allow the holder to park for free in metered and time-limited public parking spaces.
“Hanging in my office at the state Capitol, I have a sign that reads, ‘We support our veterans,’” Sen. James Manning, D-Eugene, who carried the bill in the Senate, said. “I am a veteran myself and there are many who have not lost their lives in service to this country, but they have suffered life-altering impacts. I am proud to bring forward this bipartisan legislation. When we work together, good bills pass.”
A bipartisan group of legislators – which includes Manning, Sen. Alan Olsen, R-Canby, and Rep. Tawna Sanchez, D-Portland – all served as chief sponsors of the legislation.
Current law provides parking privileges for disabled people in the form of a disabled person placard or wheelchair user placard. A disabled user placard allows parking in spaces reserved for the disabled. A wheelchair user placard allows parking in spaces designated for disabled or wheelchair users, free parking in metered spaces and unlimited parking in time-limited spaces.
A relatively simple bill, SB 1506 gives those who qualify for a disabled parking permit, and who also have a 50 percent or more service-related injury, access to a Wounded Warrior Parking Permit, which allows for free parking at metered parking spots and unlimited parking in timelimited parking spots everywhere in Oregon. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Press release provided by the Senate Majority Office. The Republican Caucus has not responded with a press release at the time of this publication.
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