SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1736

                     As of March 22, 1995

Title:  An act relating to commercial driving instructors.

Brief Description:  Revising regulation of commercial driving instructors.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Horn, Cairnes, Hickel, Mitchell, L. Thomas and Thompson).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  3/29/95.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Staff:  Brian McMorrow (786-7304)

Background:  Commercial driving schools offering instruction for teenagers must hire teachers certified by the Superintendent of Public Instruction to teach the classroom portion of the course.

Summary of Bill:  A person who qualifies under administrative rule to teach the classroom and laboratory phases must pay a $10 exam fee.

Instead of a teaching certificate, a person who wants to teach driver's education to teenagers in a classroom must hold a valid instructor's license, and must complete 1,000 hours of behind-the-wheel teaching and a course of 80 hours in instructor's training approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI).  He or she must also pass a qualifying exam administered by SPI.

Instructors who are not currently required to undergo a background check, and who teach students under the age of 18, are checked for prior criminal convictions or pending charges.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.