NY State Senate Bill 2011-S5276

Senate Bill S5276

2011-2012 Legislative Session

Directs the commissioner of motor vehicles to establish a next of kin registry for holders of drivers' licenses, learners' permits and non-driver identification

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Assembly 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

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jun 19, 2012	referred to transportation delivered to assembly passed senate
May 21, 2012	advanced to third reading
May 16, 2012	2nd report cal.
May 15, 2012	1st report cal.777
Jan 04, 2012	referred to transportation
May 03, 2011	referred to transportation

Votes

- Jun 19, 2012 - Floor Vote
  S5276
  
  59
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  3
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Floor Vote: Jun 19, 2012
      
      aye (59)
      
      Adams
      
      Addabbo Jr.
      
      Avella
      
      Ball
      
      Bonacic
      
      Breslin
      
      Carlucci
      
      DeFrancisco
      
      Diaz
      
      Dilan
      
      Duane
      
      Farley
      
      Flanagan
      
      Fuschillo
      
      Gallivan
      
      Gianaris
      
      Golden
      
      Griffo
      
      Grisanti
      
      Hannon
      
      Hassell-Thompson
      
      Johnson
      
      Kennedy
      
      Klein
      
      Krueger
      
      LaValle
      
      Lanza
      
      Larkin
      
      Libous
      
      Little
      
      Marcellino
      
      Martins
      
      Maziarz
      
      McDonald
      
      Montgomery
      
      Nozzolio
      
      O'Mara
      
      Oppenheimer
      
      Parker
      
      Peralta
      
      Perkins
      
      Ranzenhofer
      
      Ritchie
      
      Rivera
      
      Robach
      
      Saland
      
      Sampson
      
      Savino
      
      Serrano
      
      Seward
      
      Skelos
      
      Smith
      
      Squadron
      
      Stavisky
      
      Stewart-Cousins
      
      Storobin
      
      Valesky
      
      Young
      
      Zeldin
      
      excused (3)
      
      Alesi
      
      Espaillat
      
      Huntley
  May 15, 2012 - Transportation Committee Vote
  S5276
  
  18
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  1
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Transportation Committee Vote: May 15, 2012
      
      aye (18)
      
      Adams
      
      Diaz
      
      Fuschillo
      
      Johnson
      
      Kennedy
      
      Larkin
      
      Maziarz
      
      McDonald
      
      Nozzolio
      
      Perkins
      
      Ranzenhofer
      
      Robach
      
      Smith
      
      Squadron
      
      Stavisky
      
      Valesky
      
      Young
      
      Zeldin
      
      aye wr (1)
      
      Dilan

co-Sponsors

2011-S5276 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A8021
Current Committee:: Assembly Transportation
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:: Add §§215-a & 606, V & T L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2013-2014: S1948, A6694, A9120
2015-2016: S2396, A6839
2017-2018: S1910, A7313
2019-2020: S1373
2021-2022: S2711

2011-S5276 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Directs the commissioner of motor vehicles to establish a next of kin registry for holders of drivers' licenses, learners' permits and non-driver identification cards: such holders may submit their emergency contact information to be used by police in the event the holder is injured or killed.

2011-S5276 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S5276

TITLE OF BILL:
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

PURPOSE:
To create a "next of kin registry" in the State of New York.

SUMMARY:
Section 1 amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law by adding a new section
(215-a) in order to require the commissioner of the Department of
Motor Vehicles to establish and operate a statewide internet site to
be known as the "next of kin registry." The commissioner of the
Department of Motor Vehicles will be required to create a system by
which the license/ID holder can sign in using their card number and
add emergency contacts who are 18 years or older. The emergency
contact will be contacted by an investigating police officer in the
event of an accident pursuant to the new Section 606 of the Vehicle
and Traffic Law provided for in Section 2 of this legislation.

Section 2 creates a new Section 606 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law in
order to provide for appropriate times an investigating police
officer should attempt to contact the emergency contact provided for

in the "next of kin registry" including any event resulting in
physical injury, death, or incapacitation.

Section 3 provides the act take effect on the one hundred eightieth
day after it shall have become law; provided, that, effective
immediately, 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.

JUSTIFICATION:
When there is a motor vehicle accident, family members of the victims
should be informed in a timely manner.

Current law provides no way for police officers to find contact
information for a victims' emergency contacts in the event of an
accident.

This bill amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law by adding a new section
(215-a) in order to establish a statewide internet site to be known
as the "next of kin registry." Holders of drivers' licenses,
learners' permits and non..driver identification cards will be able
to visit the website and use their card number to register up to two
emergency contacts. The emergency contacts must be 18 years or older.
In the event of an accident resulting in physical injury, death, or
incapacitation, the investigating police officer will then attempt to
contact the emergency contact(s) provided for in the online registry.

This bill includes a specific provision to protect registrants from
disclosure under the Freedom of Information Law. Only police officers
is the specific instances outlined in this bill will be permitted to


access emergency contact information provided in the "next of kin
registry."

Motor vehicle accidents can be traumatic for the victims and their
family members. It is inexcusable in this technological age that
there be anything preventing the quick notice of a victims' next of
kin in the event there is an accident resulting in physical injury,
death, or incapacitation. This legislation will allow New York
State's Department of Motor Vehicles to apply a similar system to
other state's online registry's for "next of kin" emergency contacts.

HISTORY:
New bill.

FISCAL IMPACT:
Minimal.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become law;
provided, that, effective immediately, 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.

2011-S5276 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                  5276

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                               May 3, 2011
                               ___________

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

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 SIX 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  TELE-
PHONE 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.
  3.  INFORMATION  IN  THE  NEXT OF KIN REGISTRY SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE
SOLELY FOR THE USE OF POLICE OFFICERS PURSUANT TO  SECTION  SIX  HUNDRED
SIX  OF  THIS CHAPTER. THE INFORMATION IN THE NEXT OF KIN REGISTRY SHALL

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD11232-01-1

S. 5276                             2

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
606 to read as follows:
  S 606. 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, that, effective immediately, any
actions necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its  effec-
tive  date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before such
date.

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Senate Bill S5276

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Sponsored By

Patty Ritchie