HB 0633 2003
1	CHAMBER ACTION
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6	The Committee on Transportation recommends the following:
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8	Committee Substitute
9	Remove the entire bill and insert:
10	A bill to be entitled
11	An act relating to driver licenses; amending s. 322.18,
12	F.S.; requiring vision tests for certain applicants for
13	license renewal; prohibiting those applicants from
14	renewing by telephone or electronic means; requiring the
15	department to study the effects of aging on driving
16	ability; creating the Florida At-Risk Driver Council to
17	participate in the study and to advise the department on
18	issues related to older at-risk drivers; providing
19	effective dates.
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21	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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23	Section 1. Subsection (5) of section 322.18, Florida
24	Statutes, is amended to read:
25	322.18 Original applications, licenses, and renewals;
26	expiration of licenses; delinquent licenses.--
27	(5) All renewal driver's licenses may be issued after the
28	applicant licensee has been determined to be eligible by the
29	department.
30	(a) A licensee who is otherwise eligible for renewal and
31	who is over 79 years of age:
32	1. Must submit to and pass a vision test administered at
33	any driver's license office; or
34	2. If the licensee applies for an extension by mail as
35	provided in subsection (8), must submit to a vision test
36	administered by a physician licensed under chapter 458 or
37	chapter 459 or an optometrist licensed under chapter 463, must
38	send the results of that test to the department on a form
39	obtained from the department and signed by such health care
40	practitioner, and must meet vision standards that are equivalent
41	to the standards for passing the departmental vision test. The
42	physician or optometrist may submit the results of a vision test
43	by a department approved electronic means.
44	(b) A licensee who is over 79 years of age may not submit
45	an application for extension under subsection (8) by electronic
46	or telephonic means, unless the results of a vision test have
47	been electronically submitted in advance by the physician or
48	optometrist.
49	Section 2. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor
50	Vehicles shall study the effects of aging on driving ability.
51	The purpose of the study is to develop a comprehensive approach
52	to licensing drivers.
53	(1) Issues to be studied by the department shall include:
54	(a) Effective and efficient identification of drivers at
55	risk of being involved in a motor vehicle crash because of
56	functional limitations that affect their driving ability.
57	(b) Prevalence and effect of degenerative processes
58	affecting vision, mobility, cognitive functions, and reaction
59	time.
60	(c) Implementation and effect of the department's vision
61	screening requirements and examination of new technologies.
62	(d) Availability and effectiveness of remedial measures
63	such as skills training, adaptive equipment, physical therapy,
64	and adjustment of driving practices that will allow people to
65	drive safely for as long as possible.
66	(e) Availability of alternative forms of transportation
67	for people who can no longer safely drive.
68	(f) Effectiveness of existing public education initiatives
69	relating to at-risk drivers.
70	(2) The department shall report the results of the study
71	to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
72	Representatives by February 1, 2004. The report shall include
73	findings of the study and recommendations for improving the
74	safety of at-risk drivers.
75	(3) The department shall appoint an advisory council to
76	participate in the study and to advise the department on issues
77	related to older at-risk drivers on an ongoing basis. The
78	council shall be known as the Florida At-Risk Driver Council.
79	Members of the council shall include representatives of
80	organizations involved with issues facing older drivers,
81	including state agencies, medical professionals, senior citizen
82	advocacy groups, providers of services to senior citizens, and
83	research entities.
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85	This section shall take effect upon this act becoming a law.
86	Section 3. Except as otherwise provided herein, this act
87	shall take effect January 1, 2004.