I

104TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1982

To provide grants to the States to encourage the reporting of blood alcohol

levels that exceed the maximum level permitted under State law after

vehicular accidents.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 30, 1995

Ms. FURSE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee

on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Commerce, for a

period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for

consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To provide grants to the States to encourage the reporting

of blood alcohol levels that exceed the maximum level

permitted under State law after vehicular accidents.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION. 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Carol Bonnono Act

5 of 1995’’.

6 SEC. 2. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

7 The Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance is

8 authorized to provide grants to States that have developed
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1 a program that allows a health care provider who treats

2 an individual involved in a vehicular accident to report the

3 blood alcohol level, if known, of such individual to the local

4 law enforcement agency which has jurisdiction over the ac5 cident cite if the blood alcohol level exceeds the maximum

6 level permitted under State law.

7 SEC. 3. STATE ELIGIBILITY.

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to receive a grant

9 under this Act, a State shall—

10 (1) provide assurances that the State has en11 acted laws that allow a health care provider who

12 treats an individual involved in a vehicular accident

13 to report the blood alcohol level, if known, of such

14 individual to the local law enforcement agency which

15 has jurisdiction over the accident cite if the blood al16 cohol level exceeds the maximum level permitted

17 under State law;

18 (2) provide health care workers who acted in

19 good faith in making a report immunity—

20 (A) from any civil or criminal liability that

21 may incur as a result of the making or content

22 of such report; and

23 (B) from participation in any judicial pro24 ceeding that may pertain to such report.
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1 (b) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this Act,

2 the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance shall give

3 priority to States that require a health care provider to

4 report the information described in subsection (a)(1).

5 SEC. 4. USES OF FUNDS.

6 A State that receives a grant under this Act may use

7 funds to provide assistance to law enforcement agencies

8 which attempt to reduce drunken driving, or to organiza9 tions that provide treatment for alcohol and substance

10 abuse.

11 SEC. 5. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

12 (a) STATE REPORTING.—A State that receives funds

13 under this Act shall submit a report annually to the Attor14 ney General.

15 (b) ATTORNEY GENERAL REPORTING.—The Attor16 ney General shall submit a report annually to Congress

17 regarding the effectiveness of programs developed with

18 funds provided under this Act.

19 SEC. 6. DEFINITION.

20 For purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘State’’ means

21 each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the United

22 States Virgin Islands, America Samoa, and the Northern

23 Mariana Islands.
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1 SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

2 There are authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000

3 for fiscal year 1996 and such sums as may be necessary

4 for each of the fiscal years 1997 through 2000 to carry

5 out this Act.

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