REQUIRE REPORT ABOUT SEIZURES; DRIVER LIC. S.B. 244:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 244 (as introduced 4-23-25)
REQUIRE REPORT ABOUT SEIZURES; DRIVER LIC. S.B. 244:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 244 (as introduced 4-23-25)
CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 51 (General Provisions) of the Public Health Code to require a physician or optometrist to report to the Secretary of State (SOS) regarding a patient’s mental and physical qualifications to operate a motor vehicle safely due to a seizure experience. The bill also would extend current civil and criminal immunity to a physician or optometrist who made a report.
Under the Code, a physician or an optometrist may report to the SOS any information regarding a patient’s mental or physical ability to operate a motor vehicle due to an episode. The report may recommend the suspension of that individual’s operator's license for at least six months or an individual's commercial license for at least 12 months.
"Episode" currently means any of the following:
-- An experience derived from a condition that causes or contributes to loss of consciousness, blackout, seizure, a fainting spell, syncope, or any other impairment of the level of consciousness.
-- An experience derived from a condition that causes an impairment of an individual's driving judgment.
-- An experience derived from an impairment of an individual's vision.
Under the bill, the definition would no longer include a seizure experience. Further, the bill would require a physician or optometrist to report to the SOS regarding a patient's mental and physical qualifications to operate a motor vehicle in a manner as not to jeopardize the safety of persons and property due to a seizure experience. "Seizure experience" would mean an experience derived from a condition that causes or contributes to a seizure.
Under the Code, a physician or optometrist who makes a report for the suspension of an individual’s operator's or commercial license, acting in good faith and exercising due care as evidenced by documenting the physician's or optometrist’s file or medical record regarding an episode, is immune from any civil or criminal liability resulting from the report or a third party that may have been injured by the patient’s actions. The bill would extend this immunity to a physician and optometrist who made a report about a seizure experience.
MCL 333.5139 Legislative Analyst: Alex Krabill
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.