NY State Senate Bill 2023-S7917

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation 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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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2024	referred to transportation

co-Sponsors

2023-S7917 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A9613
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2017-2018: S4047
2019-2020: S4780
2021-2022: S5075

2023-S7917 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the senior driver safety commission; provides for its powers and duties.

2023-S7917 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7917

SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

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

 
PURPOSE:

This bill establishes a senior drive safety commission.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 cites this legislation as the "Bill Geller Act", in memory of
Bill Geller, a forty-seven year man from Somers, New York who was struck
and killed by an eighty-eight year old man as he was walking down a
street on a clear day.

Section 2 establishes the legislative intent, identifying the growing
number of senior drivers and increased risk of accidents among this age

group as they experience diminished peripheral vision, slower reaction
time, limited range of movement, and poor night vision; identifies New
York State as lagging other states in adopting provisions to address
this demographic shift; and establishes a senior driver safety commis-
sion.

Section 3 provides that the senior driver safety commission shall
consist of twelve members. Four members are to be appointed by the
governor -- one from the department of motor vehicles, one from the
department of transportation and one 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, and within twenty days of appointing its
members, they shall elect a chairperson from among them. Section 3 also
establishes the parameters of the commission's study and research
concerning senior driver safety, including effectiveness of current
laws, regulatory and legislative recommendations to increase the safety
of all drivers, passengers and pedestrians. It also outlines that the
commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor
and legislature no later than one hundred eighty days after the effec-
tive date of this act.

Section 4 defines senior driver as any individual aged seventy and older
with a valid driver's license issued by the New York state department of
motor vehicles.

Section 5 establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This legislation was introduced in response to the death of a 47 year
old man from Somers who was struck and killed by an eighty eight year
old driver as he was walking down the road on a clear day. Mr. Geller
left behind a young son and grieving family. The driver was never
charged in conjunction with his death. A commission designed to investi-
gate ways New York State can keep pedestrians and drivers of all ages
safe is crucial to avoid any further tragic accidents.  Seniors repre-
sent the fastest-growing segment of drivers, with current projections
suggesting that a quarter of all drivers will be over sixty-five by
2025. Due to diminished peripheral vision, slower reaction time, more
limited range of motion, and poor night vision, many older drivers have
a higher rate of fatal accidents than teenagers. Yet, according to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, New York State lags
behind other states in adopting age-appropriate driving safeguards. The
establishment of this commission begins to correct this gap in the
legislation.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-22: S5075 - Referred to Transportation

2019-20; 54780 Referred to Transportation

2017-18: S4047 REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

2015-16: A1905 (Mayer) referred to transportation

2014: A9329 (Mayer) referred to transportation

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
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.

2023-S7917 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7917
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              January 3, 2024
                                ___________
 
 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-
 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
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD07761-01-3
 S. 7917                             2
 
 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.

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Senate Bill S7917

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

co-Sponsors

2023-S7917 (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S7917 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S7917 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S7917 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S7917

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Sponsored By

Kevin S. Parker

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

co-Sponsors

Shelley B. Mayer

2023-S7917 (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S7917 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S7917 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S7917 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments