New York State Law

Article 21B - NY Vehicle and Traffic Law

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• Title V ›
• Article 21B

S 540. Creation.  There is hereby established within the department a
  medical advisory board.
S 541. Purpose.   The medical advisory board shall advise  the
  commissioner on medical criteria and vision standards for the  licensing
  of drivers.
 S 542. Composition  of  the board. The board shall consist of not less
  than fourteen members, ten of whom shall be physicians representing  the
  specialties  of  neurology,  cardiovascular medicine, internal medicine,
  family  practice,  opthalmology,  psychiatry,   orthopedics,   emergency
  medicine,  rehabilitative medicine and gerontology. At least two members
  of the board shall be lay persons. One member shall  be  an  optometrist
  and  one member shall be a psychologist who respectively are licensed to
  practice optometry or psychology in the state.
  S 543. Appointment;  compensation;  meetings.  1.  The  members of the
  board shall be appointed by the commissioner. Before  such  appointments
  are made, the commissioner shall consult with the medical society of the
  state  of  New  York  in  order  to  obtain  their  advice regarding the
  physician  appointments.  The  commissioner  shall  consult   with   the
  optometric  council  of New York state and the New York state optometric
  association regarding the appointment of an  optometrist,  and  the  New
  York  state  psychological  association  regarding  the appointment of a
  psychologist. The board members shall be appointed to serve  three  year
  terms  except that four such members initially appointed shall serve one
  year terms, five shall serve two year terms and five shall  serve  three
  year  terms. The commissioner shall designate the chairman of the board.
  Members representing other specialties and interests may be appointed by
  the commissioner upon recommendation of the board.
    2. Board members shall serve without compensation but shall be allowed
  their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their
  duties.
    3. The board shall meet  at  such  times  as  the  commissioner  shall
  direct.
  S 544. Responsibilities.  As  requested by the commissioner, the board
  shall recommend medical criteria and vision standards relating to driver
  licensing and the safe operation of a motor vehicle, and report  to  the
  commissioner on such other aspects of medical fitness, driver licensing,
  and driver health, and safety as the commissioner may request, including
  collection and analysis of data and research relating to medical aspects
  of driving and driver licensing.
 S 545. Immunity.  The medical advisory board and its members shall not
  be  held  liable  in  any  action  or  proceeding  on  account  of   any
  recommendation  or report submitted to the commissioner pursuant to this
  article.
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