[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to traffic safety education; amending RCW 28A.220.030 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 28A.220.030 and 2000 c 115 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent of public instruction is authorized to establish a section of traffic safety education, and through such section shall: Define a "realistic level of effort" required to provide an effective traffic safety education course, establish a level of driving competency required of each student to successfully complete the course, and ensure that an effective statewide program is implemented and sustained, administer, supervise, and develop the traffic safety education program and shall assist local school districts in the conduct of their traffic safety education programs. The superintendent shall adopt necessary rules and regulations governing the operation and scope of the traffic safety education program; and each school district shall submit a report to the superintendent on the condition of its traffic safety education program: PROVIDED, That the superintendent shall monitor the quality of the program and carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(2) The board of directors of any school district maintaining a secondary school which includes any of the grades 10 to 12, inclusive, may establish and maintain a traffic safety education course. The board of directors shall provide the program only to students maintaining a grade point average of 2.0 or its equivalent. If a school district elects to offer a traffic safety education course and has within its boundaries a private accredited secondary school which includes any of the grades 10 to 12, inclusive, at least one class in traffic safety education shall be given at times other than regular school hours if there is sufficient demand therefor.

(3) The board of directors of a school district, or combination of school districts, may contract with any drivers' school licensed under the provisions of chapter 46.82 RCW to teach the laboratory phase of the traffic safety education course. Instructors provided by any such contracting drivers' school must be properly qualified teachers of traffic safety education under the joint qualification requirements adopted by the superintendent of public instruction and the director of licensing.

(4) The superintendent shall establish a required minimum number of hours of continuing traffic safety education for traffic safety education instructors. The superintendent may phase in the requirement over not more than five years.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.220 RCW to read as follows:

(1)(a) Each school district shall be reimbursed from funds appropriated for traffic safety education.

(b) The superintendent of public instruction shall determine the per-pupil reimbursement amount for the traffic safety education course to be funded by the state for students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. Each school district offering an approved standard traffic safety education course shall be reimbursed or granted an amount up to the level established by the superintendent of public instruction as may be appropriated.

(c) The superintendent of public instruction may provide per-pupil reimbursements for eligible students to school districts only where all the traffic educators have satisfied the continuing education requirement of RCW 28A.220.030(4).

(2) The board of directors of any school district or combination of school districts shall establish a traffic safety education fee, which fee when imposed shall be required to be paid by any duly enrolled student in any such school district before or while enrolled in a traffic safety education course. To the extent funds are appropriated, the school board shall waive all or a portion of the fees for students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. Traffic safety education fees collected by a school district shall be deposited with the county treasurer to the credit of such school district, to be used to pay costs of the traffic safety education course.

Sec. 3. RCW 28A.220.900 and 1991 c 217 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

It is the purpose of this ((~~act~~)) chapter to ((~~provide the financial assistance necessary to enable~~)) establish standards for each high school district ((~~to offer~~)) offering 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.