What's happening
This bill creates a "yellow dot" program to help emergency responders access medical and emergency contact information for drivers and passengers aged 55 and older.
Why it matters
Improves emergency response for older adults. By enabling quick access to medical and emergency contact information, the program can help first responders make more informed and timely decisions, which is especially important for people aged 55 and older who may have complex health needs.
Standardizes emergency information storage. The use of a yellow dot decal and a designated envelope in the glove compartment creates a uniform system, making it easier for emergency personnel to know exactly where to look for critical information in any participating vehicle.
Increases public awareness and participation. The bill requires not only the creation of forms and materials, but also a consumer education program, meaning there will be efforts to inform the public and encourage widespread adoption, potentially increasing the program’s effectiveness.
Accessible and convenient enrollment. By making program materials available by mail and at all state and county motor vehicle offices, the bill ensures that older adults across New York can easily participate, regardless of their mobility or access to digital resources.
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Who cares
Drivers and passengers age 55 and older
The bill would establish a yellow dot program to help emergency personnel locate their medical and emergency contact information in a vehicle’s glove compartment.
Emergency personnel
A yellow decal on the lower left corner of a vehicle’s rear window would signal that occupants’ information may be available in a yellow envelope in the glove compartment.
Department of Motor Vehicles and state and county motor vehicle offices
The commissioner would establish the program and make its materials available by mail and at every state and county motor vehicle office.
Department of Health and Office for the Aging
Their leaders would cooperate with the motor vehicles commissioner to create program materials, an information form and a consumer education program.
Headline styles
Yellow Dot Medical Info Program
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3275
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 5, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to establishing a yellow dot program for persons fifty-five years of age or older
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 200 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. (a) The commissioner shall establish a yellow dot program for operators and passengers of motor vehicles who are fifty-five years of age or older. Such program shall include the provision of a yellow dot decal, or medical information and emergency contact form, and a durable yellow envelope for such form. The placement of the yellow dot decal on the lower left corner of the rear window of a motor vehicle shall indicate to emergency personnel that the medical and emergency contact information for the occupants of such vehicle may be located in a yellow envelope in the vehicle's glove compartment.
(b) The commissioner, in cooperation with the commissioner of health and the director of the office for the aging, shall create and make available the yellow dot program materials including the medical and emergency contact information form to be used for the yellow dot program and a consumer education program.
(c) The commissioner shall make yellow dot program materials available by mail and at every state and county motor vehicle office.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law, provided that, effective immediately, any action necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before such date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07421-01-9
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 establishing a yellow dot program for persons fifty-five years of age or older
Purpose
Directs the commissioner of motor vehicles to establish a yellow dot program under which vehicle occupants' medical information is available in the glove compartment.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends section 200 of the vehicle and traffic law by adding a new subdivision three.
Justification
This legislation allows the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles to create a "Yellow Dot" program that would alert first respon- ders about a driver's medical condition, facilitating treatment and helping more victims of crashes survive. This program is designed to help victims during the first sixty minutes after a crash, an hour that can make all the difference between life and death. A yellow dot fixed to the driver side rear window of a vehicle would notify emergency personnel of a folder in the glove compartment, alerting them to impor- tant information the victim might be unable to communicate at the time. This program is already present in numerous states including Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Virginia, Connecticut, and Alabama.
Legislative history
2018: S.6233 - Referred to Transportation / A.8143 - Referred to Trans- portation 2017: S.6233 - Passed Senate / A.8143 - Referred to Transportation 2016: S.3361A - Passed Senate / A.8184 - Referred to Transportation 2015: S.3361A - Passed Senate / A.8184- Referred to Transportation 2014: S.2484 - Referred to Transportation / A.6171 - Referred to Trans- portation 2012: S.6333 - Referred to Transportation / A.10441 - Referred to Trans- portation
Fiscal implications
Undetermined.
Effective date
This act shall take which it shall have action necessary to date are authorized effect on the first of April next succeeding the date on become a law, provided that, effective immediately, any implement the provisions of this act on its effective and directed to be completed on or before such date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.