Bill Text: NJ A5118 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Removes references to epilepsy from law requiring physicians and patients to report certain medical conditions to MVC.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-07-13 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee [A5118 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A5118-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Removes references to epilepsy from law requiring physicians and patients to report certain medical conditions to MVC.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the medical review of drivers and amending P.L.1970, c.195.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1970, c.195 (C.39:3-10.4) is amended to read as follows:
1. Each physician treating any person 16 years of age or older for recurrent convulsive seizures [or for] , recurrent [periods of unconsciousness] loss of consciousness without warning signs, or for impairment or loss of motor coordination due to conditions [such as, but not limited to, epilepsy in any of its forms, when such conditions] which persist or recur despite medical treatments, shall, within 24 hours after [his] that determination [of such fact], report the same to the [Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles] chief administrator. The [director] chief administrator, in consultation with the State Commissioner of Health, shall prescribe and furnish the forms on which [such] the reports shall be made.
(cf: P.L.1970, c.195, s.1)
2. Section 2 of P.L.1970, c.195 (C.39:3-10.5) is amended to read as follows:
2. Each person subject to recurrent convulsive seizures [or] , recurrent [periods of unconsciousness] loss of consciousness without warning signs, or impairment or loss of motor coordination [due to conditions such as, but not limited to, epilepsy in any of its forms,] shall at the time of [his] an initial application for a driver's license or any subsequent application for a renewal thereof or at [such] any other time as prescribed by the [Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles] chief administrator, report the existence of [such] those conditions to the [Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles] commission in a manner to be prescribed by the [director] chief administrator.
(cf: P.L.1970, c.195, s.2)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill removes references to epilepsy from P.L.1970, c.195, which requires treating physicians and patients with driver's licenses to report to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) when the patient has recurrent convulsive seizures, periods of unconsciousness, or impairment or loss of motor coordination resulting from a condition which persists or recurs despite medical treatments.
Under current law, physicians are required to notify the MVC if a patient has certain medical disorders, such as epilepsy, which would interfere with the safe operation of a motor vehicle. In addition, patients are required to report their condition when applying for or renewing a driver's license. The regulations of the MVC require a driver with epilepsy to be seizure-free for six months prior to obtaining or renewing a driver's license.
According to the New Jersey Epilepsy Task Force's final report, issued on November 30, 2016, epilepsy encompasses a wide variety of seizure disorders and a person who is seizure-free can be diagnosed with epilepsy. The task force recommended removing the term "epilepsy" from the provisions of P.L.1970, c.195 and replacing it with the phrase "recurrent loss of consciousness without warning signs."
Under the bill, physicians and patients with driver's licenses are required to report to the MVC when the patient suffers from recurrent convulsive seizures, recurrent loss of consciousness without warning signs, and impairment or loss of motor coordination.
