Resolve, To Allow Maine Drivers To Use Bioptic or Telescopic Spectacles When Driving Class C Motor Vehicles and When Testing for a Class C Driver's License
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0564
Committee Amendment CA_A_H38 (House)
Committee: Transportation

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 383, L.D. 564, "Resolve, To Allow 
Maine Drivers To Use Bioptic or Telescopic Spectacles When Driving Class C Motor 
Vehicles and When Testing for a Class C Driver's License" 
Amend the resolve by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Establish a Working Group To Study Vision Requirements for 
Obtaining a Driver's License and To Review the Current Prohibition on the Use of 
Telescopic or Bioptic Lenses while Driving' 
Amend the resolve by striking out everything after the title and before the summary 
and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Working group to study vision requirements for obtaining a 
driver's license and to review the current prohibition on the use of telescopic 
or bioptic lenses while driving. Resolved: That the Department of the Secretary of 
State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, referred to in this resolve as "the bureau," and the 
Medical Advisory Board, referred to in this resolve as "the board," established in the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-1, subsection 84, shall convene a working 
group to examine current vision standards, adopted by rule by the department, to qualify 
for a driver's license. 
The working group shall review the bureau's current rule 
prohibiting the use of telescopic or bioptic lenses for the purposes of meeting any of the 
visual acuity requirements for obtaining a driver's license and while driving a motor 
vehicle; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Participants. Resolved: That the bureau and the board shall work with 
stakeholders, including, but not limited to, licensed physicians representing the specialty 
of ophthalmology, advocates for those with low vision and certified orientation and 
mobility specialists, when conducting the study under section 1; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: That by January 15, 2014 the bureau shall submit a 
written report of the findings under this resolve and any recommendations, including 
suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation. The Joint 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "An to H.P. 383, L.D. 564 
Standing Committee on Transportation may submit a bill to the Second Regular Session 
of the 126th Legislature relating to the subject matter of this report.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which strikes and replaces the resolve, directs the Department of 
the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Medical Advisory Board to 
convene a working group to examine current vision standards to qualify for a driver's 
license. The amendment also directs the working group to review the bureau's current 
rule prohibiting the use of telescopic or bioptic lenses for the purposes of meeting any of 
the visual acuity requirements for obtaining a driver's license and while driving a motor 
vehicle. The amendment directs the bureau to report to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Transportation no later than January 15, 2014. The amendment also gives the Joint 
Standing Committee on Transportation authority to submit a bill to the Second Regular 
Session of the 126th Legislature relating to the subject matter of this report. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/26/13 
~ac.. 
LD564 
LR 1272(02) 
Resolve, To Allow Maine Drivers To Use Bioptic or Telescopic Spectacles When Driving Class C 
Motor Vehicles and When Testing for a Class C Driver's License 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ft' 
Committee: Transportation 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Highway Fund 
(H·3~) 
Additional costs to the Department of the Secretary of State associated with convening a working group and reporting 
the findings can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1272(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1