ORLANDO, Fla. – Today, Florida State Representative Daisy Morales (D-Orlando) expressed her excitement for the Down syndrome community with the signing of CS/CS/SB 364 – Specialty License Plates into law Wednesday evening.

“I’m honored to champion legislation in the Florida House for Florida’s first-ever specialty license plate for the Down syndrome and intellectual disability communities,” said Representative Morales. “With this bill signing, Florida residents who have Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities will receive the help they need for housing, scholarships, educational opportunities and employment assistance that are otherwise underfunded or do not exist. Plus, the organizations that serve them will get a much-needed boost in funding to do even more for them.”

Representative Morales filed the Down Syndrome Specialty License Plate legislation during the 2022 Legislative Session, the language for which was amended into CS/CS/HB 67, sponsored by Representative Alex Rizo, and Senate companion bill CS/CS/SB 364, filed by Sen. Aaron Bean, which includes seven other specialty tags.

“We are proud of our great state of Florida for joining our mission to create awareness and acceptance on WHO/WHAT/WHEN/WHERE/WHY/HOW of the people with Down syndrome,” said Hope Chinchak, founder of Our City Beautiful, a non-profit organization serving the special needs community, which partnered with Rep. Morales in proposing her initial legislation. “…On behalf of the team at Our City Beautiful and each self-advocate, parent, friend, and organization which supports persons and families in the Down syndrome community of Florida, thank you!”

Former Orange County Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor Daisy Morales, her sister Diana, and former Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings. (Photo credit: Rep. Daisy Morales’s Facebook page)

“This also serves as a special tribute to my late fifty-four-year-old sister Diana, who had Down syndrome,” said Rep. Morales. “I was her primary caretaker. I want to thank my colleagues in the Florida Legislature, Representative Rizo and Senator Bean, for their collaboration on this bipartisan legislation.”