1. (a) A political subdivision or a person who owns or controls property used for parking may designate one or more parking spaces or a parking area for the exclusive use of vehicles transporting persons with disabilities.
2. (b) A political subdivision must designate a parking space or area by conforming to the standards and specifications adopted by the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation under Section 5(i), Article 9102, Revised Statutes, relating to the identification and dimensions of parking spaces for persons with disabilities. A person who owns or controls private property used for parking may designate a parking space or area without conforming to those standards and specifications, unless required to conform by law.

3. (c) A political subdivision may require a private property owner or a person who controls property used for parking:

   1. (1) to designate one or more parking spaces or a parking area for the exclusive use of vehicles transporting persons with disabilities; or
   2. (2) to conform to the standards and specifications referred to in Subsection (b) when designating a parking space or area for persons with disabilities.
4. (d) The department shall provide at cost a design and stencil for use by a political subdivision or person who owns or controls property used for parking to designate spaces as provided by this section.

5. (e) A private property owner or private person who controls property used for parking and who designates one or more uncovered parking spaces for the exclusive use of vehicles transporting persons with disabilities shall assign at least half of those spaces for the exclusive use of vehicles displaying a white on blue shield disabled parking placard or license plates issued under Section 504.202, except that if an odd number of spaces is designated, only the number of spaces that is the largest whole number less than half of the number of designated spaces must be assigned for the exclusive use of vehicles displaying a white on blue shield placard or license plates issued under Section 504.202. Van-accessible parking spaces shall be counted as assigned spaces under this subsection. These assigned spaces must be the spaces located closest to an accessible route to an entrance accessible to a person with a disability. The remaining designated parking spaces may be used by vehicles displaying a white on blue shield disabled parking placard, a white on red shield disabled parking placard, license plates issued under Section 504.201, or license plates issued under Section 504.202. This subsection applies only to a property used for parking that serves a building or other facility:

   1. (1) that state law requires to be accessible to person with disabilities; and
   2. (2) for which construction or an alteration of the building or other facility is completed on or after September 1, 1999.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1246, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1999;

Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 11362, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 728 (H.B. 2018), Sec. 20.003(h), eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 357 (S.B. 251), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007.