(a) There shall be within the Department of Rehabilitation Services a unit for the purpose of evaluating and training persons with disabilities in the operation of motor vehicles. There shall be assigned to the driver training unit for persons with disabilities such staff as is necessary for the orderly administration of the driver training program for persons with disabilities. The personnel assigned to the driver training unit for persons with disabilities shall, while engaged in the evaluation or instruction of a person with disabilities, have the authority and immunities with respect to such activities as are granted under the general statutes to motor vehicle inspectors. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may permit a person whose license has been withdrawn as a result of a condition that makes such person eligible for evaluation and training under this section to operate a motor vehicle while accompanied by personnel assigned to the driver training unit for persons with disabilities. When a person with disabilities has successfully completed the driver training program for persons with disabilities, the Department of Rehabilitation Services shall certify such completion in writing to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and shall recommend any license restrictions or limitations to be placed on the license of such person. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may accept such certification in lieu of the driving skills portion of the examination prescribed under subsection (e) of section 14-36. If such person with disabilities has met all other requirements for obtaining a license, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall issue a license with such restrictions recommended by the Department of Rehabilitation Services.

(b) Any resident of this state who has a serious physical or mental disability which does not render the resident incapable of operating a motor vehicle and who must utilize special equipment in order to operate a motor vehicle and who cannot obtain instruction in the operation of a motor vehicle through any alternate program, including, but not limited to, other state, federal or privately operated drivers' schools shall be eligible for instruction under the Department of Rehabilitation Services driver training program for persons with disabilities.

(P.A. 76-283, S. 1, 2; P.A. 77-93; P.A. 11-44, S. 46; 11-61, S. 120; P.A. 12-81, S. 33; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, S. 63; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 196.)

History: P.A. 77-93 added to requirements in Subsec. (b) for eligibility for instruction by motor vehicles department by specifying that person must be one who needs to use special equipment and cannot obtain instruction through alternate program; P.A. 11-44 changed program name from “handicapped driver training program” to “driver training program for persons with disabilities”, replaced “Department of Motor Vehicles” with “Bureau of Rehabilitative Services” and made conforming and technical changes, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-61 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision re assignment of driver consultant for persons with disabilities to unit and deleting reference to driver consultant re authority and immunities, and amended Subsec. (b) by making a technical change, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-81 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to driver training unit personnel being engaged in “examination” of person with disabilities and add provisions requiring bureau to certify to commissioner successful completion of program by person with disabilities and recommend any license restrictions or limitations, authorizing commissioner to accept such certification in lieu of driving skills portion of examination and requiring commissioner to issue license with such restrictions as recommended by bureau if person has met all other license requirements, effective June 6, 2012; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1 replaced “Bureau of Rehabilitative Services” and “bureau” with “Department of Rehabilitation Services” and “department”, respectively, effective July 1, 2012; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re person with withdrawn license may operate a motor vehicle while accompanied by driver training unit personnel and making technical changes, effective June 30, 2015.