FINAL BILL REPORT

ESHB 2560

C 195 L 02

Synopsis as Enacted

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

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored 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).

House Committee on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:

Washington residents under age 18 are required to take a driver training class in order to obtain a driver's license, except under very limited and specific circumstances.  These drivers may take their training classes within their public high schools or by attending classes at a driver training school.

Regardless of where the classes are held, the driver training classes must meet standards established by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).  Driver training schools must be annually approved by the OSPI.

Because the Department of Licensing (DOL) is also required to oversee the licensing of driver training schools and their instructors, driver training schools could be subjected to duplicate inspections of their business practices, facilities, records and insurance.

Summary:

Driver training classes offered to Washington residents under age 18 by driver training schools must meet standards established by the DOL.  Driver training schools must be annually approved by the DOL.  A driver training school instructor who teach students under 18 must have a background check at his or her own expense.  The OSPI defines the curricula of courses offered by the public schools; the Driver Instructors Advisory Committee recommends the curricula of the courses offered by the driver training schools for approval by DOL.  In addition, the advisory committee is required to update instructor certification standards and to take into consideration the standards required to be met by school teachers teaching drivers education in the public schools.

Votes on Final Passage:

House950

Senate451(Senate amended)

House(House refused to concur)

Senate451(Senate amended)

House950(House concurred)

Effective:  June 13, 2002