Bill Text - SB145 (2005)

Establishing a medical/vision advisory board.


Revision: Jan. 21, 2010, midnight

CHAPTER 123

SB 145-FN – FINAL VERSION

03/24/05 0703s

11May2005… 1346h

2005 SESSION

05-0573

03/04

SENATE BILL 145-FN

AN ACT establishing a medical/vision advisory board.

SPONSORS: Sen. Letourneau, Dist 19; Sen. Morse, Dist 22; Sen. Martel, Dist 18; Rep. Packard, Rock 3; Rep. R. L'Heureux, Hills 19; Rep. Dowd, Rock 5; Rep. Waterhouse, Rock 4

COMMITTEE: Transportation and Interstate Cooperation

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a medical/vision advisory board to advise the director of the division of motor vehicles of the department of safety.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03/24/05 0703s

11May2005… 1346h

05-0573

03/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Five

AN ACT establishing a medical/vision advisory board.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

123:1 New Section; Issuance of Drivers’ Licenses; Medical/Vision Advisory Board. Amend RSA 263 by inserting after section 6-a the following new section:

263:6-b Medical/Vision Advisory Board.

I. In order to advise the director on medical criteria for the reporting and examination of drivers with medical impairments, a medical/vision advisory board is hereby established within the division. The board shall be composed of 3 members appointed by the director. Two of the members of the board shall be licensed physicians and residents of this state, and one member of the board shall be a licensed optometrist and a resident of this state. Of the original appointees, one shall serve for a term of 2 years and 2 shall serve for terms of 4 years. Subsequent appointees shall each serve for a term of 4 years or until their successors are appointed and approved. Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the term. The members of the board shall receive no compensation for their services and shall not hire any staff personnel but shall be paid mileage when attending to the duties of the committee at the maximum rate established in the Internal Revenue Code and regulations. After the first full year of operation of the advisory board, the board shall meet no more than 4 times per year.

II. No civil or criminal action shall lie against any member of the medical/vision advisory board who acts in good faith in advising the director under the provisions of this section. Good faith shall be presumed on the part of members of the medical/vision advisory board in the absence of a showing of fraud or malice.

III. The medical/vision advisory board shall:

(a) Create and keep current criteria and science-based guidelines for use by division hearing examiners in making licensing determinations.

(b) Develop and promote assessment techniques available to healthcare providers to assist patients in driving-related issues.

(c) Assist the division in developing policy regarding medical conditions’ effects on driving.

(d) Serve as liaison to the healthcare community in promoting best medical practices related to driving safely.

123:2 Repeal. RSA 263:6-b, relative to the medical/vision advisory board, is repealed.

123:3 Effective Date.

I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2007.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

(Approved: June 15, 2005)

(Effective Date: I. Section 2 shall take effect July 1, 2007

II. Remainder shall take effect August 14, 2005)