Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Transportation Committee |
HB 1537
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Allowing a parent or guardian to provide traffic safety education to a minor within the parent or guardian's custody.
Sponsors: Representatives Buys, Liias, Shea, Haler, McCune, Kretz, Taylor and Warnick.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/7/11
Staff: Wendy Malkin (786-7114).
Background:
A person under the age of 18 must meet several conditions to receive a driver's license. The person must be at least 16 years old, pass a traffic safety education course, have an instruction permit for at least six months, and have 50 hours of supervised driving practice from someone who has been licensed for five years or more.
A person who is at least 15 years old but less than 15-1/2 years old must be enrolled in a traffic safety education course to receive an instruction permit. A person at least 15-1/2 years old but less than 18 years old does not need to be enrolled in a traffic safety education course to receive an instruction permit, but the person must complete a traffic safety education course to receive a driver's license. In addition, the Department of Licensing (DOL) may waive the written examination to receive an instruction permit if the applicant is enrolled in a traffic safety education course.
The traffic safety education course requirement can be met by either completing a course through an approved driver training school or completing a course offered by a high school. Traffic safety education courses offered by high schools are managed locally through the school districts, and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction oversees and certifies the instructors and curriculum for the programs. Driver training school courses are offered privately, but the schools are overseen by the DOL. The DOL determines the driver training course curriculum, screens school and instructor qualifications and backgrounds, investigates complaints, and sanctions schools that are out compliance with the DOL requirements.
Summary of Bill:
A person under the age of 18 may satisfy all of the requirements and meet all of the conditions related to completing a traffic safety education course by completing a course offered by a parent or guardian if the parent or guardian is approved by the DOL to offer a traffic safety education course.
The DOL may approve a parent or guardian to offer a traffic safety education course to a minor within his or her custody if the parent or guardian meets certain criteria. The parent or guardian must have a valid Washington's driver's license, must be at least 25 years old, must not have a conviction for driving under the influence, and must not have been issued a notice of traffic infraction within the past three years. In addition, the DOL must review and approve curriculum that may be used by parents or guardians, and the parent or guardian must agree to use the DOL-approved curriculum.
The DOL may charge a fee to a parent or guardian to apply for approval to offer a traffic safety education course. The amount of the fee cannot exceed the DOL's actual costs to review course curriculum and review driving records.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 25, 2011.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.