BILL REQ. #:  Z-0157.2 

Read first time 01/17/2007.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to motorcycle driver's license endorsement and education; and amending RCW 46.20.505, 46.81A.020, 46.82.420, and 28A.220.080.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 46.20.505 and 2003 c 41 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     Every person applying for a special endorsement of a driver's license authorizing such person to drive a two or three-wheeled motorcycle or a motor-driven cycle shall pay a fee of five dollars, which is not refundable. In addition, the endorsement fee for the initial motorcycle endorsement shall not exceed ten dollars, and the subsequent renewal endorsement fee shall not exceed twenty-five dollars, unless the endorsement is renewed or extended for a period other than five years, in which case the subsequent renewal endorsement fee shall not exceed five dollars for each year that the endorsement is renewed or extended. ((The initial and renewal endorsement)) Fees collected under this section shall be deposited in the motorcycle safety education account of the highway safety fund.

Sec. 2   RCW 46.81A.020 and 2003 c 41 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The director shall administer and enforce the law pertaining to the motorcycle skills education program as set forth in this chapter.
     (2) The director may adopt and enforce reasonable rules that are consistent with this chapter.
     (3) The director shall revise the Washington motorcycle safety program to:
     (a) Institute separate novice and advanced motorcycle skills education courses for both two-wheeled and three-wheeled motorcycles that are each a minimum of eight hours and no more than sixteen hours at a cost of (i) no more than fifty dollars for Washington state residents under the age of eighteen, and (ii) no more than one hundred twenty-five dollars for Washington state residents who are eighteen years of age or older and military personnel of any age stationed in Washington state;
     (b) Encourage the use of loaned or used motorcycles for use in the motorcycle skills education course if the instructor approves them;
     (c) Require all instructors for two-wheeled motorcycles to conduct at least three classes in a one-year period, and all instructors for three-wheeled motorcycles to conduct at least one class in a one-year period, to maintain their teaching eligibility((;
     (d) Encourage the use of radio or intercom equipped helmets when, in the opinion of the instructor, radio or intercom equipped helmets improve the quality of instruction)).
     (4) The department 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. An agreement entered into under this subsection must provide that the department may conduct periodic audits to ensure that educational standards continue to meet those required for courses conducted under the motorcycle skills education program, and that the costs of the review, certification, and audit process will be borne by the party seeking certification.
     (5) The department shall obtain and compile information from applicants for a motorcycle endorsement regarding whether they have completed a state approved or certified motorcycle skills education course.

Sec. 3   RCW 46.82.420 and 2006 c 219 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The advisory committee shall consult with the department in the development and maintenance of a basic minimum required curriculum and the department shall furnish to each qualifying applicant for an instructor's license or a driver training school license a copy of such curriculum.
     (2) In addition to information on the safe, lawful, and responsible operation of motor vehicles on the state's highways, the basic minimum required curriculum shall include information on:
     (a) Intermediate driver's license issuance, passenger and driving restrictions and sanctions for violating the restrictions, and the effect of traffic violations and collisions on the driving privileges;
     (b) 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
     (c) Motorcycle awareness, approved by the ((Motorcycle Safety Foundation)) director, to ensure new operators of motor vehicles have been instructed in the importance of safely sharing the road with motorcyclists.
     (3) Should the director be presented with acceptable proof that any licensed instructor or driver training school is not showing proper diligence in teaching such basic minimum curriculum as required, the instructor or school shall be required to appear before the advisory committee and show cause why the license of the instructor or school should not be revoked for such negligence. If the committee does not accept such reasons as may be offered, the director may revoke the license of the instructor or school, or both.

Sec. 4   RCW 28A.220.080 and 2004 c 126 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     The superintendent of public instruction shall include information on motorcycle awareness, approved by the ((Motorcycle Safety Foundation)) director of licensing, in instructional material used in traffic safety education courses, to ensure new operators of motor vehicles have been instructed in the importance of safely sharing the road with motorcyclists.