BILL NUMBER: AB 2542	CHAPTERED  09/14/06

	CHAPTER  282
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 14, 2006
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 14, 2006
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 21, 2006
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 17, 2006
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 14, 2006
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 7, 2006
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 26, 2006
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 30, 2006

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Daucher

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2006

   An act to add and repeal Section 1659.9 of the Vehicle Code,
relating to vehicles.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2542, Daucher  Driver assessment.
   Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to ensure
that a person granted driving privileges is competent to legally
operate a motor vehicle.
   This bill would require the department, if it receives funds from
the Office of Traffic Safety in the Business, Transportation and
Housing Agency, to conduct a pilot study on a 3-tier assessment
system, as specified, to determine the effectiveness of the 3-tier
assessment system in identifying functional impairments, reducing
crashes, and prolonging safe driving years of all drivers regardless
of age. The bill would require the department, on or before December
31, 2011, to submit to the Legislature a final report of the pilot
study containing specified information. The bill would be repealed,
by its own term, on January 1, 2012.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 1659.9 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
   1659.9.  (a) Upon the receipt of funds from the Office of Traffic
Safety in the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency for a pilot
study on the use of a three-tier assessment system for driver's
license referral and in-office renewal candidates, the department
shall conduct the pilot study to determine the effectiveness of the
three-tier assessment system in identifying functional impairments,
reducing crashes, and prolonging safe driving years of all drivers
regardless of age.
   (b) The three-tier assessment system specified in subdivision (a)
shall consist of all of the following:
   (1) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a first tier
consisting of relatively short, easy to administer screening tests to
detect drivers who may have a condition that impairs their driving
ability.
   (B) Upon the receipt of a request for a reexamination issued
pursuant to Section 21061, receipt of a report from a local health
officer issued pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 103900 of the
Health and Safety Code, or receipt of information from a family
member under Section 13803, the department shall, at a minimum,
conduct a vision and behind-the-wheel driving test.
   (2) A second tier consisting of tests that are sufficiently
complex to more closely simulate driving conditions that would
distinguish persons who may be impaired from those who are actually
impaired for driving-related tasks.
   (3) A third tier consisting of an area driving performance
evaluation for candidates who demonstrate considerable limitation
based on the first two tiers.
   (c) Notwithstanding Section 7550.5 of the Government Code, the
department on or before December 31, 2011, shall submit to the
Legislature a final report of the pilot study that contains all of
the following:
   (1) A projection of the costs associated with the area driving
performance evaluation.
   (2) A determination of the willingness of a participant to pay a
fee for the area driving performance evaluation.
   (3) A determination of the percentage of drivers who were assessed
to have a limitation, but who, upon completion of the assessment,
were able to retain their driving privileges.
   (4) The utilization a of certified driving rehabilitation
specialist.
   (5) The results regarding crash rates and retention of driving
privileges.
  (d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2012,
and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
that is enacted before January 1, 2012, deletes or extends that date.