S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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6839--A
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 6, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CRESPO -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Transportation -- recommitted to the Committee on Transportation in
accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to establishing
a next of kin registry for holders of drivers' licenses, learners'
permits and non-driver identification cards
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
section 215-a to read as follows:
S 215-A. NEXT OF KIN REGISTRY. 1. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH AND
OPERATE, WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, AN AUTOMATED, STATEWIDE INTERNET ACCES-
SIBLE WEBSITE TO BE KNOWN AS THE "NEXT OF KIN REGISTRY". SUCH REGISTRY
SHALL BE CAPABLE OF STORING EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION OF THE HOLDERS
OF DRIVERS' LICENSES, LEARNERS' PERMITS AND NON-DRIVER IDENTIFICATION
CARDS TO BE ACCESSIBLE BY POLICE OFFICERS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIX
HUNDRED SEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER. ANY HOLDER OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE,
LEARNER'S PERMIT OR NON-DRIVER IDENTIFICATION CARD MAY VOLUNTARILY
SUBMIT, VIA AN INTERNET WEBSITE ESTABLISHED THEREFOR, THE NAMES,
ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF TWO EMERGENCY CONTACTS FOR INCLUSION
IN THE NEXT OF KIN REGISTRY.
2. IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEXT OF KIN REGISTRY, THE COMMISSIONER
SHALL ESTABLISH A PROCESS WHEREBY ANY HOLDER OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE,
LEARNER'S PERMIT OR NON-DRIVER IDENTIFICATION CARD MAY ELECTRONICALLY
SIGN INTO THE DEPARTMENT INTERNET WEBSITE USING HIS OR HER LICENSE,
PERMIT OR CARD NUMBER. THEREAFTER, SUCH HOLDER MAY ENTER HIS OR HER
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION FOR NOT MORE THAN TWO EMERGENCY CONTACT
PERSONS, OR MAY REVISE OR UPDATE PREVIOUSLY ENTERED EMERGENCY CONTACT
INFORMATION.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05816-03-6
A. 6839--A 2
3. INFORMATION IN THE NEXT OF KIN REGISTRY SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE
SOLELY FOR THE USE OF POLICE OFFICERS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIX HUNDRED
SEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER. THE INFORMATION IN THE NEXT OF KIN REGISTRY SHALL
BE DEEMED TO BE CONFIDENTIAL AND SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE SIX OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW.
4. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "EMERGENCY CONTACT" SHALL MEAN
ANY PERSON, EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, DESIGNATED BY THE HOLDER OF
A DRIVER'S LICENSE, LEARNER'S PERMIT OR NON-DRIVER IDENTIFICATION CARD
TO BE CONTACTED BY A POLICE AGENCY WHEN SUCH HOLDER IS RENDERED UNABLE
TO COMMUNICATE DUE TO PHYSICAL INJURY, DEATH OR INCAPACITATION.
S 2. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section
607 to read as follows:
S 607. NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY CONTACTS. WHEN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCI-
DENT OR ANY OTHER EVENT RESULTS IN PHYSICAL INJURY, DEATH OR INCAPACI-
TATION OF ANY PERSON, THE POLICE OFFICER INVESTIGATING SUCH ACCIDENT OR
EVENT SHALL ATTEMPT TO LOCATE AN EMERGENCY CONTACT OF THE INJURED PERSON
FROM THE NEXT OF KIN REGISTRY ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO
HUNDRED FIFTEEN-A OF THIS CHAPTER. A POLICE OFFICER SHALL, WHEN PRACTI-
CABLE, EXPEDITIOUSLY NOTIFY AN EMERGENCY CONTACT OF EACH SUCH INJURED
PERSON AND INFORM THE EMERGENCY CONTACT OF THE HOSPITAL OR OTHER
LOCATION AT WHICH THE INJURED PERSON HAS BEEN TAKEN.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediate-
ly, any actions necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its
effective date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before
such date.