AN ACT Relating to reducing traffic fatalities and serious injuries through improved traffic safety education; adding new sections to chapter 46.20 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 46.68 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 46.82 RCW; creating new sections; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 46.20 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Any person eighteen to twenty-four years of age who is applying for his or her first Washington state driver's license and who did not complete a course in traffic safety education as required under RCW 46.20.100 must complete a young driver risk prevention traffic safety course that complies with the requirements of section 5 of this act and is offered by a licensed driver training school under chapter 46.82 RCW.

(2) Any person who holds a valid driver's license from another state and who is applying for a Washington state driver's license is exempt from the requirements in this section if:

(a) He or she has held that out-of-state driver's license for at least one year;

(b) He or she completed a driver training course in the other state that was comparable to Washington driver training course standards as determined by the department; or

(c) He or she is an active member of the armed forces.

(3) The director may waive the course requirement under this section if the applicant demonstrates to the department's satisfaction that:

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

(b) A need exists for the applicant to operate a motor vehicle.

(4) The director must assess a fee of no more than five dollars upon every applicant for a driver's license that is required to complete a young driver risk prevention traffic safety course under this section. Fees collected under this section must be deposited in the young driver safety education account created in section 4 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 46.20 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The young driver safety education program is created within the department to provide financial assistance to indigent persons who are required to enroll in a young driver risk prevention traffic safety course under section 2 of this act. Financial assistance may include a full or partial subsidy voucher. For the purposes of this section, indigency criteria must be determined by the department in consultation with a statewide organization that represents disadvantaged communities.

(2) The department may receive gifts, grants, or endowments from private sources, which must be deposited in the young driver safety education account created in section 4 of this act.

(3) The department may adopt rules as necessary to carry out this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 46.68 RCW to read as follows:

The young driver safety education account is created in the highway safety fund. All receipts from fees collected under section 2(4) of this act and from contributions under section 3(2) of this act must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the administration of the young driver safety education program under section 3 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5.  A new section is added to chapter 46.82 RCW to read as follows:

(1)(a) In addition to a course that meets curriculum standards under RCW 46.82.420 intended for persons seeking a driver's license under RCW 46.20.100, a licensed driver training school must offer a young driver risk prevention traffic safety course that complies with the requirements of subsection (2) of this section.

(b) The director may waive the requirement under (a) of this subsection if a driver training school can demonstrate that offering a young driver risk prevention traffic safety course is a hardship.

(2) A young driver risk prevention traffic safety course required under section 2 of this act must comply with the following requirements:

(a) The course must be no more than ten hours, three hours of which must include behind-the-wheel instruction and the remainder of which may be online;

(b) The course must be able to be completed in a reasonable time, as determined by the department, to not unduly delay an applicant from obtaining a Washington state driver's license;

(c) The course must meet minimum curriculum requirements as determined by the department, in consultation with the traffic safety commission and other stakeholders, providing information about, among other things: (i) The dangers of distracted driving; (ii) safe driving techniques concerning hazards, such as severe weather, sharing the road with other vehicles and pedestrians, and driving in construction and school zones; (iii) the duties incumbent upon drivers, such as insurance and registration requirements and steps drivers must take after an accident; and (iv) 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 the current penalties for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol; and

(d) Behind-the-wheel instruction must consist of basic skills and maneuvers to be determined by the department.

(3) The department must establish standards and requirements to ensure timely access to high-quality, affordable young driver risk prevention traffic safety courses throughout the state.

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