H-3454.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2560

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2002 Regular Session

By Representatives Quall, O'Brien, Lovick, Mitchell, Clements, Sump, Simpson, Sehlin, Cooper, Delvin, Boldt, Morell, Kessler, Buck, Hankins, Fisher, Armstrong, Mielke, Rockefeller, Haigh, Nixon, Kenney and Jackley

Read first time 01/21/2002.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Shifting approval of driver training schools from the superintendent of public instruction to the department of licensing.

    AN ACT Relating to driver training schools; and amending RCW 46.20.100.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 46.20.100 and 1999 c 274 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Application.  The application of a person under the age of eighteen years for a driver's license or a motorcycle endorsement must be signed by a parent or guardian with custody of the minor.  If the person under the age of eighteen has no father, mother, or guardian, then the application must be signed by the minor's employer.

    (2) Traffic safety education requirement.  For a person under the age of eighteen years to obtain a driver's license he or she must meet the traffic safety education requirements of this subsection.

    (a) To meet the traffic safety education requirement for a driver's license the applicant must satisfactorily complete a traffic safety education course as defined in RCW 28A.220.020 for a course offered by a school district or an approved private school under chapter 28A.195 RCW, or as defined by the department of licensing for a course offered by a driver training school under chapter 46.82 RCW.  The course offered by a school district or an approved private school must meet the standards established by the office of the state superintendent of public instruction.  The course offered by a driver training school must meet the standards established by the department of licensing.  The traffic safety education course may be provided by:

    (i) A recognized secondary school; or

    (ii) A ((commercial driving enterprise)) driver training school that is annually approved by the ((office of the superintendent of public instruction)) department of licensing.

    (b) To meet the traffic safety education requirement for a motorcycle endorsement, the applicant must successfully complete a motorcycle safety education course that meets the standards established by the department of licensing.

    (c) The department may waive the traffic safety education requirement for a driver's license if the applicant demonstrates to the department's satisfaction that:

    (i) He or she was unable to take or complete a traffic safety education course;

    (ii) A need exists for the applicant to operate a motor vehicle; and

    (iii) He or she has the ability to operate a motor vehicle in such a manner as not to jeopardize the safety of persons or property.

The department may adopt rules to implement this subsection (2)(c) in concert with the supervisor of the traffic safety education section of the office of the superintendent of public instruction.

    (d) The department may waive the traffic safety education requirement if the applicant was licensed to drive a motor vehicle or motorcycle outside this state and provides proof that he or she has had education equivalent to that required under this subsection.

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