NY State Senate Bill 2017-S4047

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2018	referred to transportation
Feb 02, 2017	referred to transportation

co-Sponsors

2017-S4047 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S4780
2021-2022: S5075
2023-2024: S7917

2017-S4047 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the senior driver safety commission and provides for its powers and duties.

2017-S4047 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S4047

 TITLE OF BILL :  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 expiration thereof

 PURPOSE :

This bill establishes a senior drive safety commission.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 cites this legislation as the "Bill Geller Act", in memory
of Bill Geller, a forty-seven year man from Somers, New York who was
struck and killed by an eighty-eight year old man as he was walking
down a street on a clear day.

Section 2 establishes the legislative intent, identifying the growing
number of senior drivers and increased risk of accidents among this
age group as they experience diminished peripheral vision, slower
reaction time, limited range of movement, and poor night vision;
identifies New York State as lagging other states in adopting
provisions to address this demographic shift; and establishes a senior
driver safety commission. Section 2 provides that the senior driver
safety commission shall consist of twelve members. Four members are to
be appointed by the governor -- one from the department of motor

vehicles, one from the department of transportation and one from the
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,
and within twenty days of appointing its members, they shall elect a
chairperson from among them. Section 2 also establishes the parameters
of the commission's study and research concerning senior driver
safety, including effectiveness of current laws, regulatory and
legislative recommendations to increase the safety of all drivers,
passengers and pedestrians. It also outlines that the commission shall
report its findings and recommendations to the governor and
legislature no later than one hundred eighty days after the effective
date of this act.

Section 3 defines senior driver as any individual aged seventy and
older with a valid driver's license issued by the New York state
department of motor vehicles.

Section 4 establishes the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

This legislation was introduced in response to the death of a 47 year
old man from Somers who was struck and killed by an eighty eight year
old driver as he was walking down the road on a clear day. Mr. Geller
left behind a young son and grieving family. The driver was never
charged in conjunction with his death. A commission designed to
investigate ways New York State can keep pedestrians and drivers of
all ages safe is crucial to avoid any further tragic accidents.

Seniors represent the fastest-growing segment of drivers, with current
projections suggesting that a quarter of all drivers will be over
sixty-five by 2025. Due to diminished peripheral vision, slower
reaction time, more limited range of motion, and poor night vision,
many older drivers have a higher rate of fatal accidents than
teenagers. Yet, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, New York State lags behind other states in adopting
age-appropriate driving safeguards. The establishment of this
commission begins to correct this gap in the legislation.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2015-16: A1905 (Mayer) referred to transportation
2014: A9329 (Mayer) referred to transportation

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

TBD

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately

2017-S4047 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4047
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 2, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed 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 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.
   § 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.
   §  3. Senior driver safety commission. 1. The commission shall consist
 of twelve members. Four of the members shall be appointed by the  gover-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD02486-01-7

 S. 4047                             2
 
 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
 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.
   § 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.
   § 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.

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Senate Bill S4047

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

co-Sponsors

2017-S4047 (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S4047 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S4047 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S4047 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S4047

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Sponsored By

Kevin S. Parker

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

co-Sponsors

Shelley B. Mayer

2017-S4047 (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S4047 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S4047 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S4047 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments