Sleep apnea bill passes House, NASDPTS adds support

The House unanimously passes the bipartisan bill that aims to prevent the FMCSA from issuing guidance on sleep apnea testing for commercial drivers without a formal rulemaking. The state directors association joins NSTA and other groups in advocating for the legislation, which the Senate will now consider.

Thomas McMahon・Executive Editor

September 27, 2013

1 min to read

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bipartisan bill that aims to prevent the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) from issuing guidance on sleep apnea testing for commercial drivers without going through a formal rulemaking process.

The House approved H.R. 3095 with a unanimous vote of 405-0. Now, the Senate will consider the companion bill, S. 1537.

"Safety is always our top priority, and this legislation ensures a thorough review of the issue in a careful way, including a cost-benefit analysis, to ensure that any new mandate will actually improve safety,” said Tim Flood, president of the National School Transportation Association (NSTA).

A coalition of organizations, including NSTA, has been advocating for the legislation. On Friday, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) announced its support.

"This legislation will not prevent FMCSA from addressing OSA [obstructive sleep apnea] and other sleep disorders, but it will simply require that any action taken be done via a long-standing process that includes stakeholder input and a cost-benefit analysis," NASDPTS President Max Christensen said. "All of us have the goal to reduce sleep disorder induced accidents and improve safety."

Topics:driver fatigue FMCSA NASDPTS NSTA Safety

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