S539-2011 Actions

• Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
• May 3, 2011: REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
• Apr 4, 2011: PRINT NUMBER 539A
• Apr 4, 2011: AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO TRANSPORTATION
• Jan 5, 2011: REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

S539-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S539

TITLE OF BILL:

An act
to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to authorizing
forms of licenses to include blood types

PURPOSE:

To provide persons holding New York State Driver's Licenses with the
opportunity to have blood type information included on the driver's
license.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

The bill would amend §504 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to authorize
the form of a driver's license to include adequate space for a
licensee's blood type to be recorded, if the licensee so chooses. It
also authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles
to consult with the Commissioner of the Department of Health on the
inclusion of such blood type information.

EXISTING LAW:

No provision currently exists for inclusion of a licensee's blood type
upon a New York State Driver's License.

JUSTIFICATION:

Time is of the essence when emergency medical staff are treating
injuries of accident victims. One way to save valuable time is to
ensure that a person's blood type is known to rescuers and medical
personnel as soon as possible. The ABO blood group system, discovered
in 1901, contains 4 blood types: A,B,AB and O. The Rh, or rhysus,
system classifies blood into Rh-positive and Rh-negative categories.
ABO incompatibilities are the major cause of fatal transfusion
reactions; Rh antibodies develop as an adverse response after
transfusion. Typing and cross matching blood ensures a safe match,
but takes time and effort that may not be spared in an active life
saving situation. Type 0, which is 'universal donor blood', may often
be used, but is typically in very short supply.

with over 2 million traffic accidents annually and many other
incidents, accidents and rescue situations occurring regularly,
providing quick access to blood type information ensures delivery of
swift and effective aid.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2002 - A.9463 - Referred to Transportation
2004 - A.3197 - Referred to Transportation
2006 - S.3293 - Referred to Transportation
2008 - S.2233 - Referred to Transportation
2010 - S.1830 - Referred to Transportation


FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal cost to DMV of including a space on licenses for blood type
information.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

365 days after enactment, with the DMV Commissioner authorized to
promulgate necessary rules and regulations immediately.

S539-2011 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 
                                          539
 2011-2012 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 (PREFILED)
 January 5, 2011
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  KLEIN,  BRESLIN, SAMPSON, SMITH -- 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 authorizing
 forms of licenses to include blood types
 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section  1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 504 of the vehi
 cle and traffic law, as separately amended by chapters 568  and  639  of
 the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:

 (a)  Every  license  or renewal thereof shall contain a distinguishing
 mark and adequate space upon  which  an  anatomical  gift,  pursuant  to
 section  forty-three hundred ten of the public health law, by the licen
 see shall be recorded and shall contain such other information and shall
 be issued in such form as the commissioner  shall  determine;  PROVIDED,
 HOWEVER  THAT  EVERY  LICENSE OR RENEWAL THEREOF SHALL CONTAIN A DISTIN
 GUISHING NUMBER OR MARK AND ADEQUATE SPACE  UPON  WHICH  THE  LICENSEE'S
 BLOOD  TYPE  MAY  BE  RECORDED  AT THE OPTION OF THE LICENSEE, AND SHALL
 CONTAIN SUCH OTHER RELATED INFORMATION AND SHALL BE ISSUED IN SUCH  FORM
 AS  THE  COMMISSIONER,  IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH,
 SHALL DETERMINE; provided, however, every  license  or  renewal  thereof
 issued  to  a person under the age of twenty-one years shall have promi
 nently imprinted upon it the statement "UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE" in  nota
 bly  distinctive  print  or  format;  provided  further,  however, every
 license or renewal thereof issued to a person making an anatomical  gift
 shall have prominently printed upon the front of such license or renewal
 thereof  the  statement  "ORGAN  DONOR"  in notably distinctive print or
 format. The commissioner shall not require fees for the issuance of such
 licenses or renewals thereof to persons under twenty-one years of age or
 to persons making an anatomical gift which are different from  the  fees
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD04224-01-1
 
       S. 539                              2
 required  for  the  issuance  of licenses or renewals thereof to persons
 twenty-one years of age or over or to persons not making  an  anatomical
 gift.
 

S  2.  This act shall take effect on the three hundred sixty-fifth day
 after it shall have become  a  law  and  shall  apply  to  licenses  and
 renewals thereof issued on or after such day. Effective immediately, the
 addition,  amendment  and/or  repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
 for the implementation of this act on its effective date  is  authorized
 to be made on or before such effective date.

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