S2151-2011 Actions

• Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
• Jan 18, 2011: REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

S2151-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S2151

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to wheelchair transfer
safety

PURPOSE:
Any vehicle that is equipped with a wheelchair lift shall also be
equipped with a safety belt that shall be used to secure individuals
in wheel chairs while they are being lifted from or into such vehicle.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 375 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended as defined in
the bill.

EXISTING LAW:

JUSTIFICATION:
Recent fatal accidents involving wheelchair bound individuals being
improperly transferred from vehicles without the use of a safety belt
have brought attention to the issue of wheelchair transfer safety.
Ninety-year-old Nancy Deffaa was wheelchair bound. She fell from a
transportation vehicle for wheelchairs after being placed in the open
doorway of the vehicle without a safety belt. She fell from her
wheelchair to the ground breaking bones in both her legs and arms.
After two weeks of severe pain Nancy Deffaa died. Volunteer or
municipal ambulances, invalid coaches, and any motor vehicle intended
for livery service should be designed to maximize the safety and
mobility of the individuals who depend on those services. If Nancy
Deffaa was wearing a safety belt her injuries, pain, and death may
have been prevented. By requiring that any vehicle that is equipped
with a wheelchair lift also be equipped with a safety belt, we can
help prevent accidents like Nancy's from happening to anyone else.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2006: A.11063 Referred to Transportation
2007: A.686   Referred to Transportation
2008: A.686   Referred to Transportation

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

S2151-2011 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 
                                         2151
 2011-2012 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 January 18, 2011
 
 Introduced by Sens. McDONALD, HASSELL-THOMPSON, LARKIN -- 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  wheelchair
 transfer safety
 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section 1.

Section 375 of the vehicle and traffic law  is  amended  by
 adding a new subdivision 52 to read as follows:

 52.  ANY VEHICLE THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH A WHEELCHAIR LIFT SHALL ALSO BE
 EQUIPPED WITH A SAFETY BELT THAT SHALL BE USED TO SECURE INDIVIDUALS  IN
 WHEELCHAIRS WHILE THEY ARE BEING LIFTED FROM OR INTO SUCH VEHICLE.
 

S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD01574-01-1

*By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and Privacy Policy and verify you are over 13.

Discuss!