§1258. Medical Advisory Board

1.  Board.  The Medical Advisory Board, as established by Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 84, consists of members appointed by the Secretary of State. Membership of the board is as follows.

A. The board must include licensed physicians representing the specialties of cardiology, gerontology, internal medicine, neurology or neurological surgery, ophthalmology, psychiatry, family practice and rehabilitative medicine and may include additional members who are professionals in relevant medical fields.   [PL 1995, c. 482, Pt. B, §19 (AMD).]

B. The Secretary of State shall designate the chair of the board.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

C. Members of the board are entitled to compensation in accordance with Title 5, chapter 379.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

[PL 1995, c. 482, Pt. B, §19 (AMD).]

2.  Duties.  The duties of the board are as follows.

A. The board shall meet at least once every 2 years and may hold as many meetings as necessary.   [PL 2005, c. 433, §17 (AMD); PL 2005, c. 433, §28 (AFF).]

B. The board shall advise the Secretary of State on written medical and vision standards related to operator's licensing. Standards may only be adopted as rules.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

C. The board shall coordinate efforts to educate health care providers and the public in the medical aspects of motor vehicle operator licensing.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

[PL 2005, c. 433, §17 (AMD); PL 2005, c. 433, §28 (AFF).]

3.  Determination of competency.  The Secretary of State may request written medical reports to determine who receives records, testimony, recommendations and reports of the board and determine the competency of a person to operate a motor vehicle.

[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

4.  Board review.  The Secretary of State, having cause to believe that a licensed driver or applicant may not be physically or mentally qualified to be licensed, may obtain the advice of the board, a member of the board or another medical or paramedical professional licensed or certified in a medical specialty as follows.

A. The board may formulate advice from records and reports or may cause an examination and report to be made by a member or another qualified person.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

B. The person under review may deliver a written report to the board and the board must give due consideration to the report.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

C. The Secretary of State may request that the board interview in person someone whose ability to operate a motor vehicle safely is unascertainable through written reports or records.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

5.  Suspension pending compliance.  The license of a person under review who refuses to submit to an examination or to provide information as requested by the Secretary of State pursuant to this subchapter may be suspended until the individual complies with the request.

[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]

6.  Immunity.  A member of the board or other person making an examination and report of opinion, recommendation or advice to the Secretary of State in good faith is immune from criminal or civil liability for so doing. A physician or other person who becomes aware of a physical, mental or emotional impairment that appears to present an imminent threat to driving safety and reports this information to the Secretary of State in good faith is immune from criminal or civil liability for so doing. The immunity for damages under this subsection applies only to the extent that this immunity is not in conflict with federal law or regulation.

[RR 1993, c. 2, §20 (COR).]

7.  Confidentiality.  A report received or made by the board, a member or the Secretary of State for the purpose of assisting the Secretary of State in determining whether a person is qualified to be licensed is confidential and only for the use of the board, the Secretary of State, medical personnel treating the person subject to review and the person subject to review.

These reports may not be divulged to another person unless the person subject to review gives written permission.

[PL 2015, c. 206, §5 (AMD).]

8.  Reporting.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Title 5, section 12005-A, the board is not required to file an annual report with the Secretary of State unless the board meets and exercises any of its powers and duties during a calendar year. In any calendar year in which the board meets and exercises any of its powers and duties, the board is subject to the provisions of Title 5, section 12005-A.

[PL 2005, c. 433, §16 (NEW); PL 2005, c. 433, §28 (AFF).]

SECTION HISTORY

RR 1993, c. 2, §20 (COR). PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 482, §§A21,B19 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 433, §§16,17 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 433, §28 (AFF). PL 2015, c. 206, §5 (AMD).