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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Jennings
DATE TYPED 03/02/05 HB
SHORT TITLE Driver’s Licenses for Medically Improved
SB 994
ANALYST Ford
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY05
FY06
FY05
FY06
NFI
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Department of Public Safety (DPS)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 994 allows a driver who has previously been found ineligible for a driver’s license
because of a mental disability or disease to receive a driver’s license if a physician certifies that
s/he is recovered to full health.
Significant Issues
Current law provides that a license shall not be issued to a person “who has previously been af-
flicted with or who is suffering from any mental disability or disease that would render him un-
able to drive a motor vehicle with safety upon the highways and who has not, at the time of ap-
plication, been restored to health.” This seems to provide that a person whose application for a
license is denied could reapply when his/her health is restored and be issued a license. In addi-
tion, Section 66-5-6 NMSA 1978 establishes the health standards advisory board, and a process
of review for persons who have been denied a license because of health reasons. The board is
able to receive information from health care practitioners about the condition of the applicant.