S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  9329

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              April 9, 2014
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. MAYER, BENEDETTO, CLARK, CRESPO, GALEF, RIVERA --
  Multi-Sponsored  by  -- M. of A. BRENNAN, COOK, DUPREY, JACOBS -- read
  once and referred to the Committee on Transportation

AN ACT to establish the senior driver safety  commission  and  providing
  for  its  powers  and  duties;  and  providing  for the repeal of such
  provisions upon the expiration thereof

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  This  act  shall  be  known and may be cited as the "Bill
Geller act", in memory of Bill Geller, a forty-seven year old  man  from
Somers,  New  York who was struck and killed by an eighty-eight year old
driver as he was walking down a road on a clear, sunny day.  Mr.  Geller
left  a  grieving  family,  including  a young son. The driver was never
charged in conjunction with his death.
  S 2. Legislative intent. 1. The legislature hereby finds and declares:
  (a) seniors represent the fastest-growing  segment  of  drivers,  with
current  projections  suggesting  that  a quarter of all drivers will be
over 65 by 2025;
  (b) drivers 85 years of age and older have  a  higher  rate  of  fatal
accidents than teenagers;
  (c)  accidents  involving  senior  drivers are caused in large part by
factors such as diminished peripheral vision, which can lead drivers  to
enter roadways in the path of oncoming vehicles; slower reaction time; a
more limited range of movement; and poor night vision; and
  (d)  based  upon  the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's
suggestions and comparative analysis of provisions  across  the  states,
New  York  State  lags  behind  other states in adopting age-appropriate
driving safeguards.
  2. The legislature therefore finds and declares that a  senior  driver
safety commission shall be established pursuant to this act.
  S  3. Senior driver safety commission. 1. The commission shall consist
of twelve members. Four of the members shall be appointed by the  gover-
nor,  of  which  one shall be from the department of motor vehicles, one
shall be from the department of transportation and one shall be from the

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD14214-07-4

A. 9329                             2

office for the aging.  Three of the members shall be  appointed  by  the
temporary  president  of  the  senate.    Three  of the members shall be
appointed by the speaker of the assembly. One member shall be  appointed
by  the  minority leader of the senate. One member shall be appointed by
the minority leader of the assembly.  All  appointments  shall  be  made
within thirty days of the effective date of this act.
  2.  The commission shall, within twenty days following the appointment
of all its members, elect a chairperson from among such members.
  3. The commission shall study, examine and review the issue of  senior
driver safety. In conducting its study, the commission shall:
  (a)  evaluate  the  effectiveness  of  current laws and regulations in
regards to senior driver safety;
  (b) make  regulatory  and  legislative  recommendations  necessary  to
increase the safety of all drivers, passengers and pedestrians;
  (c)  survey  and  assess the leading causes of senior driver car acci-
dents;
  (d) identify and analyze preventative measures that may be implemented
by the state to reduce the number of accidents involving senior drivers;
  (e) study and evaluate the availability and effectiveness of screening
tests for identifying impaired drivers;
  (f) survey and assess the problems of driving under the  influence  of
prescription drugs often used by senior drivers;
  (g)  analyze  and provide measures that may mitigate the risks associ-
ated with  the operation of motor vehicles by senior drivers,  including
the use of non-traditional driving devices that may mitigate risks; and
  (h)  consider  any  other  issues  or  matters the commission may deem
appropriate to fulfill the scope of its charge.
  4. The commission shall report its findings, conclusions and recommen-
dations to the governor and legislature no later than one hundred eighty
days after the effective date of this act.
  S 4. As used in this act "senior driver" is defined as any  individual
aged  70  and older with a valid driver's license issued by the New York
state department of motor vehicles.
  S 5. This act shall take effect immediately and shall remain in effect
until the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have  become  a  law,
when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.