Bill > A5118

Introduced Session

This bill removes references to epilepsy from P.L.1970, c.195, which requires treating physicians and patients with driver's licenses to report to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) when the patient has recurrent convulsive seizures, periods of unconsciousness, or impairment or loss of motor coordination resulting from a condition which persists or recurs despite medical treatments. Under current law, physicians are required to notify the MVC if a patient has certain medical disorders, such as epilepsy, which would interfere with the safe operation of a motor vehicle. In addition, patients are required to report their condition when applying for or renewing a driver's license. The regulations of the MVC require a driver with epilepsy to be seizure-free for six months prior to obtaining or renewing a driver's license. According to the New Jersey Epilepsy Task Force's final report, issued on November 30, 2016, epilepsy encompasses a wide variety of seizure disorders and a person who is seizure-free can be diagnosed with epilepsy. The task force recommended removing the term "epilepsy" from the provisions of P.L.1970, c.195 and replacing it with the phrase "recurrent loss of consciousness without warning signs." Under the bill, physicians and patients with driver's licenses are required to report to the MVC when the patient suffers from recurrent convulsive seizures, recurrent loss of consciousness without warning signs, and impairment or loss of motor coordination.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee (on 07/13/2017)

Official Document