BILL NUMBER: S629

SPONSOR: BOYLE
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the general business law, in relation
to requiring any person operating an aircraft to submit to a breathalyz-
er

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill would require all pilots flying into or out of New York
airports to submit to a breathalyzer exam.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Adds a new section to the general business law requiring
breathalyzer exams for pilots.

Section 2. Effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:
              

In April 2016, a commercial airline pilot was arraigned in federal court
for exceeding the legal blood alcohol limit for pilots. On the date in
question, the pilot was selected for a random breathalyzer exam after
flying a plane with over 100 passengers and crew from Orlando to New
York. The pilot vastly exceeded the legal limit and was allowed to fly
because no mechanism is in place to catch these pilots before they fly.
This measure will improve safety and restore public confidence in our
pilots.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) currently forbids pilots to
operate an aircraft with a blood alcohol content of .04$ or greater, or
operating an aircraft within 8 hours of consuming alcohol.  Currently,
the FAA allows companies to implement random breathalyzer exams, as well
as scheduled exams or exams under suspicion. Since 1995, 225 commercial
airline pilots have tested above the legal blood-alcohol limit, accord-
ing to the FAA.

To ensure the safety of our skies, as well as the numerous passengers
and crew aboard aircraft, this legislation will require all incoming and
outgoing plane pilots using New York airports to take a breathalyzer
exam before boarding the aircraft.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2016: referred to transportation
01/04/17 REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
01/03/18 REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.