Bill Text: NY S01910 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: 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 and medical services in the event the holder is injured or killed.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-01-03 - REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION [S01910 Detail]

Download: New_York-2017-S01910-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          1910
                               2017-2018 Regular Sessions
                    IN SENATE
                                    January 11, 2017
                                       ___________
        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:
     1    Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
     2  section 215-a to read as follows:
     3    § 215-a. Next of kin registry. 1. The commissioner shall establish and
     4  operate,  within the department, an automated, statewide internet acces-
     5  sible website to be known as the "next of kin registry".  Such  registry
     6  shall be capable of storing emergency contact information of the holders
     7  of  drivers'  licenses,  learners' permits and non-driver identification
     8  cards to be accessible  by  police  officers  pursuant  to  section  six
     9  hundred  seven  of  this  chapter.  Any  holder  of  a driver's license,
    10  learner's permit  or  non-driver  identification  card  may  voluntarily
    11  submit,  via  an  internet  website  established  therefor,  the  names,
    12  addresses and telephone numbers of two emergency contacts for  inclusion
    13  in the next of kin registry.
    14    2. In the implementation of the next of kin registry, the commissioner
    15  shall  establish  a  process  whereby  any holder of a driver's license,
    16  learner's permit or non-driver identification  card  may  electronically
    17  sign  into  the  department  internet  website using his or her license,
    18  permit or card number. Thereafter, such holder  may  enter  his  or  her
    19  emergency  contact  information  for not more than two emergency contact
    20  persons, or may revise or update previously  entered  emergency  contact
    21  information.
    22    3.  Information  in  the  next of kin registry shall be made available
    23  solely for the use of police officers pursuant to  section  six  hundred
    24  seven 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.
                                                                   LBD07441-01-7
        S. 1910                             2
     1  be  deemed  to  be  confidential  and shall not be subject to disclosure
     2  pursuant to article six of the public officers law.
     3    4.  For  the  purposes of this section, "emergency contact" shall mean
     4  any person, eighteen years of age or older, designated by the holder  of
     5  a  driver's  license, learner's permit or non-driver identification card
     6  to be contacted by a police agency when such holder is  rendered  unable
     7  to communicate due to physical injury, death or incapacitation.
     8    §  2.  The  vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section
     9  607 to read as follows:
    10    § 607. Notification of emergency contacts. When a motor vehicle  acci-
    11  dent  or  any other event results in physical injury, death or incapaci-
    12  tation of any person, the police officer investigating such accident  or
    13  event shall attempt to locate an emergency contact of the injured person
    14  from  the  next  of  kin  registry  established  pursuant to section two
    15  hundred fifteen-a of this chapter. A police officer shall, when  practi-
    16  cable,  expeditiously  notify  an emergency contact of each such injured
    17  person and inform  the  emergency  contact  of  the  hospital  or  other
    18  location at which the injured person has been taken.
    19    § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
    20  it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediate-
    21  ly, any actions necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its
    22  effective  date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before
    23  such date.