NY State Senate Bill 2025-S1798

Senate Bill S1798

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Issues distinctive epilepsy awareness license plates and establishes an epilepsy awareness fund and an epilepsy research and education program

download bill text pdf

Current 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 13, 2025	referred to transportation

2025-S1798 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A4152
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:: Add §404-ff, V & T L; add §99-ss, St Fin L; add Art 27-CCCC §2748, Pub Health L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S7829, A8574

2025-S1798 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Issues distinctive epilepsy awareness license plates; establishes an epilepsy awareness fund and an epilepsy research and education program.

2025-S1798 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S1798

SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, the state finance law, and
the public health law, in relation to issuing distinctive epilepsy
awareness license plates and establishing an epilepsy awareness fund and
an epilepsy research and education program

 
PURPOSE:

This bill seeks to simultaneously raise awareness for epilepsy and raise
funds for the research and patient education of epilepsy.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. of the bill amends the vehicle and traffic law to add a now
section 404-ff, which authorizes the issuance of distinctive "epilepsy
awareness" license plates, All monies received as the annual service
charge for such license plates shall be deposited to an "epilepsy aware-
ness fund" established pursuant to section 99-rr of the state finance

law and shall be used for research and education programs undertaken
pursuant to article 27-cccc of the public health law.

Section 2 of the bill amends the state finance law to add a new section.
99- rr, which establishes a New York state "epilepsy awareness fund" in
the joint custody of the commissioner of taxation and finance and the
comptroller. Such fund shall consist of all monies received pursuant to
section 404-ff of the vehicle and traffic law and shall be used for
research and education programs undertaken pursuant. to article 27-cccc
of the public health law. Nothing in the section prevents the fund from
receiving grants, gifts, or bequests for the purpose of the fund.

Section 3 of the bill amends the public health law to add a new article
27- cccc, which directs the Commissioner of the Department of Health to
establish within the Department a program to promote research and
patient education regarding epilepsy. Such research and patient educa-
tion program shall promote scientific investigations with respect to the
causes, prevention and treatment of epilepsy; promote patient education
programs designed to raise awareness of epilepsy and reduce or prevent
the incidence and severity of seizures, including information on seizure
recognition and first aid; accept and expend any grants, awards or other
funds or appropriations as may be available for such purposes; and enter
into contracts within the amounts available therefor as may he neces-
sary.

Section 4 of the bill states that a distinctive license plate estab-
lished pursuant to section 404-ff of the vehicle and traffic law shall
only be designed, produced and issued upon the delivery to the Depart-
ment of Motor Vehicles of a surety bond in the amount of six thousand
dollars. All service charges collected pursuant to this section are
directed to be deposited in department of motor vehicles distinctive
plate development fund established by section 95-g of the state finance
law pursuant to section 404-oo of the vehicle and traffic law.

Section 5 of the bill sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:
Despite some estimates showing that roughly 1% of the U.S. population
has epilepsy, it remains a remarkably understudied condition. To the
extent that it is studied and understood within the medical community,
it is even less understood in wider society. Many people do riot know
the proper protocol when someone near them is having a seizure. More-
over, many people have misguided and ingrained beliefs about epilepsy,
like that people with epilepsy are possessed, that they have brought it
upon themselves, or that many are not capable of living relatively
normal lives.

These issues largely stem from persistent stigma and a taboo surrounding
seizures and epilepsy as a discussion topic. An epilepsy awareness
license plate would not only go a long way to lifting such stigma, but
the funds collected would go toward research and patient education that
would further lift such stigma and, ideally, contribute to literature
that makes great strides in the treatment of people with epilepsy.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2024 - Passed Senate

 
FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediate)y; provided, however, that sections
one, two, and three of this act shall take effect on the ninetieth day
after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,
amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the
implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be
made and completed on or before such effective date.

2025-S1798 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1798
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 13, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. PERSAUD -- 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, the state finance law,  and
   the  public  health  law,  in relation to issuing distinctive epilepsy
   awareness license plates and establishing an epilepsy  awareness  fund
   and an epilepsy research and education program
 
   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 404-ff to read as follows:
   §  404-FF.  DISTINCTIVE  "EPILEPSY  AWARENESS"  LICENSE PLATES. 1. ANY
 PERSON RESIDING IN THIS STATE SHALL UPON REQUEST BE ISSUED A DISTINCTIVE
 "EPILEPSY AWARENESS" LICENSE PLATE OF A DESIGN APPROVED BY  THE  COMMIS-
 SIONER.  APPLICATION  FOR  SAID  LICENSE  PLATE  SHALL BE FILED WITH THE
 COMMISSIONER  IN  SUCH  FORM  AND  DETAIL  AS  THE  COMMISSIONER   SHALL
 PRESCRIBE.
   2. A DISTINCTIVE PLATE ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE ISSUED
 IN  THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER NUMBER PLATES UPON THE PAYMENT OF THE REGU-
 LAR REGISTRATION FEE PRESCRIBED BY SECTION  FOUR  HUNDRED  ONE  OF  THIS
 ARTICLE  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, THAT AN ADDITIONAL ANNUAL SERVICE CHARGE OF
 TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS  SHALL  BE  CHARGED  FOR  SUCH  PLATES.  ALL  MONIES
 RECEIVED AS THE ANNUAL SERVICE CHARGE UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE DEPOS-
 ITED  TO  THE  CREDIT  OF  THE  NEW YORK STATE "EPILEPSY AWARENESS FUND"
 ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION NINETY-NINE-SS OF THE STATE FINANCE  LAW
 AND  SHALL BE USED FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS UNDERTAKEN PURSU-
 ANT TO ARTICLE TWENTY-SEVEN-CCCC OF THE  PUBLIC  HEALTH  LAW.  PROVIDED,
 HOWEVER  THAT ONE YEAR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION FUNDS IN
 THE AMOUNT OF TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS, OR SO MUCH THEREOF AS MAY BE  AVAIL-
 ABLE,  SHALL  BE  ALLOCATED TO THE DEPARTMENT TO OFFSET COSTS ASSOCIATED
 WITH THE PRODUCTION OF SUCH LICENSE PLATES.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD05055-01-5
 S. 1798                             2

 
   § 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 99-ss to
 read as follows:
   §  99-SS.  THE  NEW  YORK STATE "EPILEPSY AWARENESS FUND". 1. THERE IS
 HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN THE JOINT CUSTODY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF  TAXATION
 AND  FINANCE  AND THE COMPTROLLER, A SPECIAL FUND TO BE KNOWN AS THE NEW
 YORK STATE "EPILEPSY AWARENESS FUND".
   2. SUCH FUND SHALL CONSIST OF ALL REVENUES RECEIVED  PURSUANT  TO  THE
 PROVISIONS  OF  SECTION  FOUR HUNDRED FOUR-FF OF THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC
 LAW AND ALL OTHER MONEYS APPROPRIATED, CREDITED, OR TRANSFERRED  THERETO
 FROM  ANY OTHER FUND OR SOURCE PURSUANT TO LAW. NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN
 SHALL PREVENT THE STATE FROM RECEIVING GRANTS, GIFTS OR BEQUESTS FOR THE
 PURPOSES OF THE FUND AS DEFINED IN THIS SECTION AND DEPOSITING THEM INTO
 THE FUND ACCORDING TO LAW.
   3. MONIES OF THE FUND SHALL BE EXPENDED ONLY FOR EPILEPSY RESEARCH AND
 EDUCATION PROGRAMS. AS USED IN  THIS  SECTION,  "EPILEPSY  RESEARCH  AND
 EDUCATION  PROGRAMS"  MEANS  SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH OR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
 WHICH, PURSUANT TO ARTICLE TWENTY-SEVEN-CCCC OF THE PUBLIC  HEALTH  LAW,
 ARE APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
   4.  MONIES  SHALL BE PAYABLE FROM THE FUND ON THE AUDIT AND WARRANT OF
 THE COMPTROLLER ON VOUCHERS APPROVED AND CERTIFIED BY  THE  COMMISSIONER
 OF HEALTH.
   5.  TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH SHALL ENSURE
 THAT ALL MONIES RECEIVED DURING A FISCAL YEAR ARE EXPENDED PRIOR TO  THE
 END OF THAT FISCAL YEAR.
   §  3. The public health law is amended by adding a new article 27-CCCC
 to read as follows:
                              ARTICLE 27-CCCC
                   EPILEPSY RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM
 SECTION 2748. SPECIAL PROGRAMS WITH RESPECT TO EPILEPSY.
   § 2748. SPECIAL PROGRAMS WITH RESPECT TO  EPILEPSY.  THE  COMMISSIONER
 SHALL  ESTABLISH WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT A PROGRAM TO PROMOTE RESEARCH AND
 PATIENT EDUCATION REGARDING EPILEPSY. TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF  THIS
 SECTION, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL:
   1.  PROMOTE  SCIENTIFIC  INVESTIGATIONS  WITH  RESPECT  TO THE CAUSES,
 PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF EPILEPSY;
   2. PROMOTE PATIENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO RAISE  AWARENESS  OF
 EPILEPSY  AND  REDUCE OR PREVENT THE INCIDENCE AND SEVERITY OF SEIZURES.
 SUCH PATIENT  EDUCATION  PROGRAMS  SHALL  ALSO  INCLUDE  INFORMATION  ON
 SEIZURE RECOGNITION AND FIRST AID;
   3.  ACCEPT  AND  EXPEND ANY GRANTS, AWARDS OR OTHER FUNDS OR APPROPRI-
 ATIONS AS MAY BE AVAILABLE FOR THESE PURPOSES SUBJECT TO LIMITATIONS  AS
 TO  THE APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURES AND AUDIT AS PRESCRIBED FOR STATE FUNDS
 BY THE STATE FINANCE LAW; AND
   4. ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITHIN THE AMOUNTS AVAILABLE THEREFOR  AS  MAY
 BE NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
   §  4. 1. A distinctive plate established pursuant to section 404-ff of
 the vehicle and traffic law shall only be designed, produced and  issued
 upon  the  delivery to the department of motor vehicles of a surety bond
 in the amount of six thousand dollars, which  shall  be  executed  by  a
 surety  company  authorized  by  the department of financial services to
 transact business in this state. Provided, however, that if the  commis-
 sioner  of  motor  vehicles  shall  have received prior to plate design,
 production and issuance at least two hundred orders for such distinctive
 plate together with the additional annual service charge  applicable  to
 each  such  order,  which  shall  be non-refundable, no such surety bond
 shall be required.   All service  charges  collected  pursuant  to  this
 S. 1798                             3
 
 section  shall be deposited pursuant to the provisions of section 404-oo
 of the vehicle and traffic law to the credit of the department of  motor
 vehicles  distinctive plate development fund established by section 95-g
 of  the  state finance law and shall be used for the design, production,
 advertising and distribution of distinctive license plates in accordance
 with such section 95-g.
   2. If, upon the expiration of two years following the date upon  which
 distinctive  plates  in  the  series  are  first  available for sale two
 hundred or more sets of such plates are sold, a bond delivered  pursuant
 to this section shall be discontinued. If fewer than two hundred sets of
 such  plates  are  sold  by  such time, the department of motor vehicles
 shall be entitled to recover against the bond in an amount proportionate
 to such shortfall.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately; provided,  however,  that
 sections  one, two, and three of this act shall take effect on the nine-
 tieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective  immediately,  the
 addition,  amendment  and/or  repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are  authorized
 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.

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