Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S2293 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 54 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2293
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Bruce E. Tarr
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act promoting road safety.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex 1 of 3
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 54 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2293
18	18	By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2293) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation
19	19	to promote road safety. Transportation.
20	20	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
21	21	SEE SENATE, NO. 2138 OF 2019-2020.]
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
25	25	(2023-2024)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act promoting road safety.
28	28	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
29	29	of the same, as follows:
30	30	1 SECTION 1. The Registrar of Motor Vehicles shall initiate a voluntary program allowing
31	31	2interested individuals to obtain from the Registry a yellow dot window decal for placement on
32	32	3their motor vehicle and a yellow dot folder for placement in the glove compartment of the motor
33	33	4vehicle. Program participation shall be limited to individuals 62 years of age or over and to
34	34	5individuals with a chronic illness.
35	35	6 The purpose of the yellow dot program is to assist participants by making critical health
36	36	7information readily available to emergency medical responders and law enforcement personnel
37	37	8in the event of a motor vehicle accident, a medical emergency, or any other interaction involving
38	38	9emergency medical responders or law enforcement personnel. 2 of 3
39	39	10 Participants shall affix the yellow dot window decal on the operator’s side of the motor
40	40	11vehicle’s rear window in the lower corner. The purpose of the decal is to alert emergency
41	41	12medical responders or law enforcement personnel and notify them to search the glove
42	42	13compartment of the motor vehicle for the corresponding yellow dot folder, which shall include
43	43	14the participant’s health information.
44	44	15 The purpose of the information in the folder is to assist emergency medical responders
45	45	16and law enforcement personnel in positively identifying the participant, communicating with the
46	46	17participant’s family or emergency contacts, and ensuring that the participant’s current
47	47	18medications and preexisting medical conditions are considered when treatment is administered
48	48	19for any injury the participant suffers in a motor vehicle accident; when treatment is administered
49	49	20for any other medical emergency; or when any other interaction involving emergency medical
50	50	21responders or law enforcement personnel occurs.
51	51	22 SECTION 2. In designing the yellow dot program materials, the Registrar, in
52	52	23consultation with the department of public health and the executive office of elder affairs, shall
53	53	24give consideration to the program materials used by similar programs in other states in order to
54	54	25maximize uniformity. Program materials shall include, but need not be limited to:
55	55	26 (1) a yellow decal of a size and design to be determined by the Registrar which will be
56	56	27affixed to the rear driver’s side window of the program participant’s vehicle;
57	57	28 (2) a health information card which provides space for a program participant to attach a
58	58	29recent photograph and indicate the participant’s name, emergency contact information,
59	59	30physicians’ names and contact information, medical conditions, recent surgeries, allergies, 3 of 3
60	60	31medications, and any other information the Registrar shall deem to be relevant information to
61	61	32emergency responders in the case of emergency;
62	62	33 (3) a yellow envelope of a size and design to be determined by the Registrar into which
63	63	34the health information card established pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection is to be
64	64	35inserted and then placed in the program participant’s glove compartment; and
65	65	36 (4) a program instruction sheet including a toll free hotline phone number and electronic
66	66	37mail address , established by the Registrar, to assist individuals who have questions about the
67	67	38program or require assistance in completing the health information card.
68	68	39 SECTION 3. A fee may be charged for the issuance of the yellow dot window decal and
69	69	40yellow dot folder. The fee shall be sufficient to cover the costs associated with the program and
70	70	41is in addition to the regular vehicle license fee and any other fees and taxes required to be paid
71	71	42upon registration of the motor vehicle.
72	72	43 SECTION 4. The Registrar shall adopt such rules governing the “yellow dot” program as
73	73	44may be necessary to implement and administer the program, and shall undertake a public
74	74	45information campaign to raise awareness of the program.
75	75	46 SECTION 5. No emergency responder shall be liable for any civil damages as a result of
76	76	47any acts or omissions undertaken in response to incomplete, incorrect, or outdated information
77	77	48provided on any health information card if the responder acted in good faith in rendering care at
78	78	49the scene of a motor vehicle accident or emergency to a program participant.