S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  1818

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            February 9, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  LANZA  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance

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
              

S. 1818                             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.