SB 157

Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) must approve

driver education courses offered by school districts, county children with disabilities

education boards, and technical college districts. DPI must also establish minimum

standards for driver education courses offered by private driver schools. DPI may

not approve a driver education course or establish driver education course standards

unless the course or standards, among other things, acquaint students with the

hazards posed by farm machinery and animals on highways and by railroad grade

crossings and provides instruction in safely dealing with these hazards.

Under current law, the Technical College System Board (TCSB) must approve

courses of study for each program offered in technical college district schools,

including driver education courses. TCSB may not approve a driver education course

unless the course, among other things, acquaints students with the hazards posed

by farm machinery and animals on highways and provides instruction in safely

dealing with these hazards. The Department of Transportation (DOT) licenses

private driver schools, and DOT may not license a driver school unless its course of

instruction includes the content required for TCSB approval of a driver education

course.

Under this bill, all approved driver education courses must acquaint each

student with the hazards posed by railroad highway grade crossings and provide at

least 30 minutes of instruction in safely dealing with these hazards.