Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH F. VITALE
District 19 (Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Gordon
SYNOPSIS
Permits health care providers to report certain patient health problems to MVC.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Transportation Committee on June 18, 2012, with amendments.
An Act concerning the reporting of impaired drivers and supplementing Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. A 1[physician] health care provider1 may report to the Motor Vehicle Commission the name, age, address, and description of the alleged 1[disability] impairment1 of any person 16 years of age or older diagnosed by the 1[physician] health care provider1 with a health problem which, in the 1[physician’s] health care provider’s1 judgment, will significantly affect the person’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. The Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission, in consultation with the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services, shall prescribe and furnish the forms on which such reports are to be made.
b. In order to be assured that no person is unwarrantedly denied the privilege of operating a motor vehicle in this State because of reports submitted under the provisions of this act, the chief administrator, in consultation with the commissioner, shall establish a procedure for the evaluation and screening of cases so reported.
c. Reports submitted pursuant to the provisions of this act shall be for the information of the chief administrator in administering State motor vehicle laws and shall be kept in the confidence of the commission and shall not be revealed or used by the commission in any manner or any circumstances expect for the purpose of determining the eligibility of a person to operate a motor vehicle on the highways of this State.
1d. For the purposes of this section, “health care provider” means a physician or surgeon as defined in section 5 of P.L.1939, c.115 (C.45:9-5.1) or a person licensed as: a doctor of podiatric medicine pursuant to the R.S.45:5-1 et seq., a dentist pursuant to R.S.45:6-1 et seq., an optometrist pursuant to R.S.45:12-1 et seq., an advanced practice nurse pursuant to P.L.1991, c.377 (C.45:11-45 et seq.), or a practicing psychologist pursuant to P.L.1966, c.282 (C.45:14B-1 et seq.).1
2. This act shall take effect immediately.