H-1547.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1919
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State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session
By Representatives Valle, Dellwo, Sprenkle, Scott, Winsley, Prentice, Rasmussen, Bowman and Leonard.
Read first time February 14, 1991. Referred to Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance.
AN ACT Relating to motor vehicle insurance and safety courses; amending RCW 48.19.460 and 28A.220.900; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.220 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 48.19.460 and 1987 c 377 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) Any schedule of rates or rating plan for automobile liability and physical damage insurance submitted to or filed with the commissioner shall provide for an appropriate reduction in premium charges except for underinsured motorist coverage for those insureds who are fifty-five years of age and older, for a two-year period after successfully completing a motor vehicle accident prevention course meeting the criteria of the department of licensing with a minimum of eight hours, or additional hours as determined by rule of the department of licensing. An eight-hour program-learning self-instruction course shall be made available in areas in which a classroom course meeting the criteria of this section is not offered. The classroom course may be conducted by a public or private agency approved by the department. The self-instruction course shall be conducted by an agency approved by the department to conduct classroom courses under this section.
(2) Any schedule of rates or rating plan for automobile liability and physical damage insurance submitted to or filed with the commissioner shall provide for an appropriate reduction in premium charges, except for underinsured motorist coverage, for those insureds who: (a) Are between seventeen and twenty-five years of age; (b) have completed a traffic safety education course as defined in RCW 28A.220.020; (c) are enrolled, on at least a part-time basis, in a high school, vocational school, or institution of higher education, or have successfully graduated from same, and; (d) have a current or latest cumulative grade point average of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale, or an equivalent average ranking, the average having been maintained for at least one school year.
Sec. 2. RCW 28A.220.900 and 1969 ex.s. c 218 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
It is the purpose of this act to provide the financial assistance necessary to enable each high school district to offer a course in traffic safety education and by that means to develop in the youth of this state a knowledge of the motor vehicle laws, an acceptance of personal responsibility on the public highways, and an understanding of the causes and consequences of traffic accidents, with an emphasis on the consequences, both physical and legal, of the use of drugs or alcohol in relation to operating a motor vehicle. The course in traffic safety education shall further provide to the youthful drivers of this state training in the skills necessary for the safe operation of motor vehicles.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28A.220 RCW to read as follows:
The superintendent of public instruction shall include information on the effects of alcohol and drug use on motor vehicle operators, including information on drug and alcohol related traffic injury and mortality rates in the state of Washington, and current penalties for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in instructional material used in traffic safety education courses.