S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  3633

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 27, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. CUSICK -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Transportation

AN  ACT to establish the teen 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.  Legislative declaration. The legislature hereby finds and
declares:  (a) that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death
for teens; (b) the risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among  16  to
19  year  olds  than  among any other age group; and (c) the presence of
teen passengers increases the crash risk of unsupervised  teen  drivers.
The  legislature  therefore finds and declares that a teen driver safety
commission shall be established pursuant to this act.
  S 2. Teen driver safety commission. 1. The commission shall consist of
twelve members. Four of the members shall be appointed by the  governor,
of  which  one  shall be from the department of motor vehicles. 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 after the date on which
this act shall have become a law.
  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 teen
driver safety.  In conducting its study, the commission shall:
  (a) study and evaluate the availability and  effectiveness  of  driver
education  and training programs in the state, as well as a selection of
driver education and training programs  offered  throughout  the  United
States;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD02610-01-9
              

A. 3633                             2

  (b)  survey and assess the problems of driving under the influence and
aggressive driving among teens;
  (c)  review the impact of distracting behaviors while driving, includ-
ing, but not limited to, the use of hands-free electronic  communication
devices and the manual use of non-standard audio devices;
  (d) determine the type of motor vehicle violations that are most often
associated with accidents involving teen drivers;
  (e)  evaluate  the role and utilization of defensive driving and acci-
dent prevention programs;
  (f) determine and analyze any non-standard safety devices that may  be
available; and
  (g)  consider  any  other  issues  or  matters the commission may deem
appropriate to fulfill the scope of its charge.
  4. Additionally, the commission shall  analyze  and  provide  measures
that may mitigate the risks associated with the operation of motor vehi-
cles  by  teen  drivers. Such measures shall include, but not be limited
to:
  (a) requiring the parents  of  a  teen  driver  to  attend  all  court
proceedings  and  hearings  associated  with  motor  vehicle  violations
charged to such teen driver;
  (b) assessing fines or penalties to the parents of a teen driver  when
they knowingly allow such driver to operate a motor vehicle in violation
of a class restriction; and
  (c)  prohibiting  anyone,  other  than family members or a supervising
driver, from riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle operated by a teen
driver.
  5. 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 3. 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.