Kansas currently is considering legislation that will allow people with medical needs such as skin cancer to have a darker tint than the currently prescribed 35 percent visible light transmission. House Bill 2471 (HB 2471) was introduced by Rep. Sydney Carlin (D-Manhattan).

The proposed bill is an “act concerning individuals with light sensitivity; relating to one-way glass and sun screening devices for motor vehicles; creating an exemption; amending K.S.A. 2013 Supp. 8-1749a and repealing the existing section.”

Anyone approved as exempted from the law would have to place a symbol on the rear bumper of the vehicle, identifying that the driver has passed the necessary requirements. The total visible light transmission may not be less than 20 percent. If passed in its current format, the bill would go into effect January 1, 2015.

The bill was introduced to the House of Representatives in January and was referred to the Committee on Transportation. It has not yet reached the Senate.

According to a recent letter to the transportation committee submitted by Jon Hummell, interim director of the budget, “HB 2471 would allow a Kansas resident with light sensitivity to submit a request to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), on a form provided by KDHE, for a bumper sticker that would identify them as being legally impaired and allowed to install window tinting with total light transmission less than that allowed under current law, but no less than 20.0 percent. Upon receiving satisfactory proof of such condition or impairment, and payment of a fee not to exceed $20, the Department would be required to issue a symbol to be placed on the applicant’s rear bumper. The bill outlines other stipulations regarding the use of the bumper sticker. Violations of this law would be an unclassified misdemeanor.”

Read the full proposed bill here: http://kslegislature.org/li/b2013_14/measures/documents/hb2471_00_0000.pdf.