Introduced Version
House Concurrent Resolution 60 History
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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 60
(By Delegates Hrutkay, J. Miller, Stephens, Tansill, Argento,
Boggs, Burdiss, Crosier, Ennis, Klempa, Manchin, Martin, Pethtel,
Pino, Proudfoot, Shook, Wells, Wysong, Duke, Ellem and Evans)
[Introduced March 1, 2007; referred to the Committee on Rules.]
Requesting the Committee on Government and Finance to conduct a
study of the requirements and restrictions for a license to
operate a motor vehicle by individuals with impaired vision,
including, but not limited to, the feasibility and potential
benefits and risks of the use of bioptic telescopic devices by
visually impaired persons to qualify for a license and the
feasibility of mandatory vision examination for license
renewal.
W
HEREAS
, Many people with low vision are highly motivated to
drive and are willing to take measures such as the use of
corrective or bioptic lenses while driving, while others drive
either without an awareness of a vision impairment or without
regard for their need for vision correction, thus creating a
hazard on the road and a hazard to the safety of others; and
W
HEREAS
, West Virginia is one of eleven states that does not require its citizens to have vision tests upon the renewal of their
driver's licenses; and
W
HEREAS
, Vision tests upon the renewal of driver's licenses
could potentially be beneficial to drivers who may be unaware of
their vision impairment, and would potentially enhance the safety
of drivers that are unaware that he or she has a vision impairment,
as well as their passengers and others on the road; and
WHEREAS, Visually impaired individuals should not be
disqualified from being licensed to drive due to their impairment
if corrective vision devices are available to safely correct their
vision to enable the person to safely operate a motor vehicle; and
WHEREAS, Currently, thirty nine States license "bioptic"
drivers following an individual assessment and screening of the
driver's capabilities; and
Whereas, The Legislature desires to provide adequate measures
to allow visually impaired individuals to be licensed to operate a
motor vehicle if corrective vision measures can be utilized to
enable these individuals to safely operate a motor vehicle; and
W
HEREAS
, A collaborative effort composed of Legislative
Members, the Division of Motor Vehicles, the State Police,
ophthalmologists, optometrists and other interested parties would
be desirable to study and devise effective means to provide for
licensure of visually impaired individuals if feasible, and to also
identify drivers that have vision impairments to determine whether they can safely drive with proper vision correction; therefore be
it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study the requirements and restrictions for a license
to operate a motor vehicle by individuals with impaired vision,
including, but not limited to, the feasibility and potential
benefits and risks of the use of bioptic telescopic devices by
visually impaired persons to qualify for a license and the
feasibility of mandatory vision examination for license renewal;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance appoint an interim committee to conduct the study composed
of eleven members, including three members of the Senate appointed
by the President of the Senate, three members of the House of
Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, the
commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles or his or her
designee, the director of the Division of Rehabilitation Services
or his or her designee, an ophthalmologist licensed in this state,
an optometrist licensed in this state and one citizen member with
impaired vision, whose driving vision could potentially benefit by
the use of bioptic telescopic lenses, appointed by the director of
the Division of Rehabilitation Services in consultation with the
President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2008, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.
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