What's happening
This bill requires New York's pre-licensing driving course to include information on organ and tissue donation and registration.
Why it matters
Increases public awareness of organ and tissue donation. by making education about donation and registration a mandatory part of the process for all new drivers, reaching a broad and diverse audience at a formative moment.
May boost New York's organ donor registration rates,. as prospective drivers are directly informed about the process and importance of donation when they are required to take the pre-licensing course—a time when many are first eligible to register.
Integrates organ donation into state-sanctioned safety education,. signaling that the state views organ and tissue donation as a civic responsibility akin to safe driving, potentially reducing stigma or misconceptions about donation.
Could have downstream public health benefits,. as higher registration rates can lead to more organ transplants and lives saved, affecting not only potential recipients but also their families and communities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Teach Organ Donation in Licensing
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1297
- Print number 5781a
- Amend and recommit to transportation
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 63–0
Show 3 earlier actions
- Ordered to third reading cal.2045
- Reported and committed to rules
- 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.
Add Organ Donation to Licensing
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Felix Ortiz
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5781--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 28, 2017
Introduced by Sens. HANNON, CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation -recommitted to the Committee on Transportation in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring the pre-licensing course to include information on organ and tissue donation and how to register as an organ donor
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 4 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 97 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
(i) Upon submission of an application for a driver's license, the applicant shall be required to take and pass a test, or submit evidence of passage of a test, with respect to the laws relating to traffic, the laws relating to driving while ability is impaired and while intoxicated, under the overpowering influence of "Road Rage", or "Work Zone Safety" awareness as defined by the commissioner, the law relating to exercising due care to avoid colliding with a parked, stopped or standing authorized emergency vehicle or hazard vehicle pursuant to section eleven hundred forty-four-a of this chapter, the ability to read and comprehend traffic signs and symbols and such other matters as the commissioner may prescribe, and to satisfactorily complete a course prescribed by the commissioner of not less than four hours and not more than five hours, consisting of classroom driver training and highway safety instruction or the equivalent thereof, and shall also include information on organ and tissue donation and how to register as an organ donor. Such test shall include at least seven written questions concerning the effects of consumption of alcohol or drugs on the ability of a person to operate a motor vehicle and the legal and financial consequences result-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11274-02-8
S. 5781--A 2
ing from violations of section eleven hundred ninety-two of this chapter, prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Such test shall include one or more written questions concerning the devastating effects of "Road Rage" on the ability of a person to operate a motor vehicle and the legal and financial consequences resulting from assaulting, threatening or interfering with the lawful conduct of another person legally using the roadway. Such test shall include one or more questions concerning the potential dangers to persons and equipment resulting from the unsafe operation of a motor vehicle in a work zone. Such test may include one or more questions concerning the law for exercising due care to avoid colliding with a parked, stopped or standing vehicle pursuant to section eleven hundred forty-four-a of this chapter. Such test shall be administered by the commissioner. The commissioner shall cause the applicant to take a vision test and a test for color blindness. Upon passage of the vision test, the application may be accepted and the application fee shall be payable.
§ 2. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 4 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 355 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
(i) Upon submission of an application for a driver's license, the applicant shall be required to take and pass a test, or submit evidence of passage of a test, with respect to the laws relating to traffic, the laws relating to driving while ability is impaired and while intoxicated, under the overpowering influence of "Road Rage", "Work Zone Safety" awareness and "Motorcycle Safety" awareness as defined by the commissioner, the law relating to exercising due care to avoid colliding with a parked, stopped or standing authorized emergency vehicle or hazard vehicle pursuant to section eleven hundred forty-four-a of this chapter, the ability to read and comprehend traffic signs and symbols and such other matters as the commissioner may prescribe, and to satisfactorily complete a course prescribed by the commissioner of not less than four hours and not more than five hours, consisting of classroom driver training and highway safety instruction or the equivalent thereof, and shall also include information on organ and tissue donation and how to register as an organ donor. Such test shall include at least seven written questions concerning the effects of consumption of alcohol or drugs on the ability of a person to operate a motor vehicle and the legal and financial consequences resulting from violations of section eleven hundred ninety-two of this chapter, prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Such test shall include one or more written questions concerning the devastating effects of "Road Rage" on the ability of a person to operate a motor vehicle and the legal and financial consequences resulting from assaulting, threatening or interfering with the lawful conduct of another person legally using the roadway. Such test shall include one or more questions concerning the potential dangers to persons and equipment resulting from the unsafe operation of a motor vehicle in a work zone. Such test may include one or more questions concerning motorcycle safety. Such test may include one or more questions concerning the law for exercising due care to avoid colliding with a parked, stopped or standing vehicle pursuant to section eleven hundred forty-four-a of this chapter. Such test shall be administered by the commissioner. The commissioner shall cause the applicant to take a vision test and a test for color blindness. Upon passage of the vision test, the application may be accepted and the application fee shall be payable.
S. 5781--A 3
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however, that if chapter 355 of the laws of 2017 shall not have taken effect on or before such effective date, then section two of this act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as chapter 355 of the laws of 2017 takes effect.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring the pre-licensing course to include information on organ and tissue donation and how to register as an organ donor
Purpose
To include information about organ and tissue donation and about how to register as an organ donor in the course required in order to get a New York State drivers license
Summary of provisions
Section one amends subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 4 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law by adding language requiring the driving courses described under that section provide information on organ and tissue donation and how to register as an organ donor.
Justification
There are currently over 10,000 candidates waiting for organ donations in New York State and every year over 3,000 candidates are added to the waiting list. The supply of available organs falls well short of meeting the needs of these candidates, and New York is working to educate people and increase the number of people registered as organ donors. One of the more successful efforts has been Lauren's Law which provides an opportu- nity to register as a donor as part of a Department of Motor Vehicle application for a driver's license. Additionally, in 2017 a new state law went into effect, which allows 16 & 17 year olds to register as organ donors. Becoming a licensed driver already requires that an appli- cant take a five hour course on various aspects of driving and this bill requires that the course include information on organ and tissue donation and how to register. Including this information as part of the driving course is appropriate and necessary so that people know about this important issue and decision.
This bill will help to bolster the number of organ donors among New York state drivers by creating greater awareness of the registration process and the vital role organ donors play in saving the lives of others.
Legislative history
2016: S.7504
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
First of January next succeeding enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.