S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4780
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 25, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. PARKER, MAYER -- 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.
              

                                                            LBD10605-01-9

 S. 4780                             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.