What's happening
This bill directs the Department of Health to study and recommend how healthcare professionals should report motorists' medical conditions that may impair driving.
Why it matters
Could impact license renewals and driving eligibility. The study may lead to changes in how and when medical conditions disqualify individuals from driving, affecting people with chronic illnesses or conditions that could impair driving abilities.
Balances public safety with patient privacy. The bill specifically addresses the need to protect patient confidentiality, so any future reporting requirements would need to find a balance between road safety and medical privacy rights.
Might establish clearer responsibilities for healthcare professionals. By recommending a professional standard for reporting, the bill could clarify or increase legal and ethical obligations for doctors, nurse practitioners, and others, potentially influencing how they interact with patients about driving risks.
Aims to improve accident prevention and data collection. The study will also examine current accident reporting and the Department of Motor Vehicles’ medical review program, with the goal of better identifying and managing motorists whose medical conditions contribute to crashes.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Study Doctor Reporting of Drivers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to health
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–1
- Ordered to third reading cal.1915
- Referred to rules
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.
Study Doctors Reporting Unsafe Drivers
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Robert C. Carroll
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
9065
IN SENATE
June 15, 2018
Introduced by Sen. HAMILTON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT authorizing and directing the department of health to conduct a study on physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals reporting medical conditions that may impair the ability of a motorist to drive a motor vehicle
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The department of health, in consultation with the department of motor vehicles, division of state police, medical society of the state of New York, the nurse practitioner association of New York state and any other agencies or political subdivisions or parties with expertise it deems necessary, shall conduct a study and make recommendations regarding physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals reporting medical conditions that may impair the ability of a motorist to drive a motor vehicle to the department of health and department of motor vehicles. Such recommendations shall include, but not be limited to: (a) methods for licensed healthcare professionals to identify conditions that pose a significant risk to the safe operation of a motor vehicle; (b) the use of uniform validated measures for determining the degree of impairment of the motorist; (c) a mechanism, including the use of existing mechanisms, for healthcare professionals to report such conditions to the department of motor vehicles while protecting patient confidentiality; and (d) the development of a professional standard of performance for physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals reporting conditions that may pose a significant risk to the safe operation of a motor vehicle. The study shall also include recommendations for improving and expanding use of the department of motor vehicles medical review program regarding the reexamination of currently licensed motorists that may not be qualified to drive a motor vehicle due to a chronic, ongoing condition that may cause loss of consciousness, awareness or body control and proper reporting of accidents in which a medical condition contributed to causation. The report may also include recommendations on additional mechanisms, including without limitation
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16318-01-8
S. 9065 2
administrative or statutory remedies and public outreach campaigns, to increase self-reporting of medical conditions that may impair a motorist's ability to operate a motor vehicle.
§ 2. The study shall be completed and a report with any recommendations, including findings and justification for the development of the professional standard of performance, shall be submitted to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the chair of the senate transportation committee, the chair of the assembly transportation committee, the chair of the senate health committee and the chair of the assembly health committee within one year of the effective date of this act.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act authorizing and directing the department of health to conduct a study on physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals reporting medical conditions that may impair the ability of a motorist to drive a motor vehicle
Purpose or general idea of bill
Requires the Department of Health in consultation with other agencies and professional organizations to review and make recommendations regarding healthcare professionals reporting medical conditions that may impair the ability of a motorist to operate a motor vehicle to the Department of Health and Department of Motor Vehicles.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of the bill requires the Department of Health in consultation with the Department of Motor Vehicles, Division of State Police, Medical Society of NYS, and Nurse Practitioners Association, to review and make recommendations regarding healthcare professionals reporting medical conditions that may impair the ability of a motorist to operate a motor vehicle to the Department of Health and Department of Motor Vehicles. These recommendations must include methods for identifying the condi- tions and degree of impairment, mechanisms for reporting conditions to DOH and DMV, the development of a professional standard of performance for licensed healthcare professionals to report conditions, improving and expanding DMV's medical review program's reexamination of currently licensed drivers, and mechanisms for increasing self-reporting of medical conditions that impair a motorist's ability to operate a motor vehicle.
Section 2 of the bill requires the study and recommendations must be submitted to the Governor and Legislature within one year of the effec- tive date of the bill.
Justification
A driver who suffers from a condition that could suddenly impair their driving ability without notice may put themselves, pedestrians, and other drivers at risk. There have been multiple occurrences in New York over the past two years when a medically impaired driver has tragically killed pedestrians due in part to a recurring ailment or disease that caused sudden impairment without notice. Most recently, a driver with a history of health problems, while sitting at a red light, suddenly accelerated through a busy crosswalk, killing two children and injuring two adults. This bill will require the state and other interested parties to study and issue recommendations on changes to the current system of reporting medical conditions that impair a drivers ability to safely operate a motor vehicle to the DMV and DOH.
Prior legislative history
None
Fiscal implication
This review should be conducted within the current resources of the Department of Health.
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.