SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6282
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Transportation, February 5, 2002
Title: An act relating to motorcycle skills education.
Brief Description: Allowing private motorcycle skills courses.
Sponsors: Senators Horn, Haugen, B. Sheldon, Costa, Morton, Honeyford, Hale, Stevens, Finkbeiner and Oke.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/31/02, 2/5/02 [DPS].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6282 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Eide, Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Keiser, McAuliffe, McDonald, Oke, T. Sheldon and Shin.
Staff: Dean Carlson (786‑7305)
Background: In 1982, legislation passed requiring the Department of Licensing to create a voluntary motorcycle operator training and education program to provide public awareness of motorcycle safety and to provide classroom and on-cycle training.
The department may waive all or a portion of the motorcycle endorsement examination for people who satisfactorily complete the motorcycle operator training and education program.
Summary of Substitute Bill: The Department of Licensing may enter into agreements to review and certify that a private motorcycle skills education course meets educational standards equivalent to those required of courses conducted under the motorcycle skills education program. The department may conduct periodic audits to ensure that the educational standards meet those for courses conducted under the motorcycle skills education program at the cost of the private party seeking certification.
The Department of Licensing may waive all or part of the motorcycle endorsement examination for persons who satisfactorily complete a private motorcycle skills education course that has been certified by the department.
Only Washington State residents and military personnel stationed in Washington can participate in the motorcycle skills education course provided by the Department of Licensing.
Persons taking the motorcycle safety education class offered by the Department of Licensing must pay no more than $100 and persons under the age of 18 must pay no more than $50.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: Persons age 18 and older shall pay no more than $100, and persons under the age of 15 shall pay no more than $50 for a motorcycle safety education class under the motorcycle safety and education program.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 25, 2002.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: The number one priority problem within the motorcycle community is the supply problem with motorcycle safety education classes. This bill will allow the students to pay more of the costs. The current backlog for the motorcycle safety education classes is three to six months long.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Larry Walker, Washington Road Riders Association (pro); Karen Bolin, Washington Road Riders Association (pro); Carl Spurgeon, Department of Licensing (pro).