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Sponsors
15 Co-sponsors
21 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Requires vehicles equipped with wheelchair lifts to have safety belts that are used to secure individuals in wheelchairs while being lifted from or into a vehicle
In Senate Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Roy J. McDonald
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:A5770 REVISED 3/9/10
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to wheelchair transfer safety
Purpose or general idea of bill
Any vehicle that is equipped with a wheelchair lift shall also be equipped with a safety belt that shall be used to secure individuals in wheel chairs while they are being lifted from or into such vehicle.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 375 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended as defined in the bill
Justification
Any vehicle that has a wheelchair lift shall also be equipped with a safety belt that must be used to secure individuals in wheelchairs while they are being lifted to and from such vehicle.
A recent fatality involving a person with a wheelchair who was in the process of moving from one vehicle to the next without the aid of a safety belt has emphasized the need to address the crucial issue of wheelchair transfer safety. This bill seeks to do just that.
Nancy Deffaa fell out of the open doorway of a transportation vehicle for wheelchairs, breaking bones in both her arms and legs. Within two weeks, Nancy Deffa died from those aforementioned injuries she sustained. She had not been wearing a seat belt that day because the vehicle she had fallen from was not equipped with one.
This case accentuates the fundamental need to include 'safety apparatus such as seat belts in liveries, ambulances, and any other vehicles which wheelchair users depend upon for their mobility. Ensuring vehicles with wheelchair lifts are fitted with safety belts is an essential prevention mechanism against further tragic accidents such as that of Nancy Deffaa.
Prior legislative history
2006 A11063 Referred to Transportation; 2007 A686 Referred to Transportation 2008 A686 Referred to Transportation ; 2009 A5770 Referred to Transportation
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.