SB 433

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, provides instruction relating to

safely dealing with the hazards posed by machinery and animals on highways and

by railroad highway grade crossings, passing stopped emergency vehicles, and the

hazards of text messaging while driving.

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, includes instruction relating to the same

topics described above. 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 provide each

student with instruction in proper procedures for attaching a trailer to a motor

vehicle.

Under current law, DOT must test knowledge and understanding of certain

topics when it gives the knowledge examination for applicants for motor vehicle

operator's licenses. These topics include highway signs, traffic laws, fuel-efficient

driving habits, anatomical gifts, and the effects of consuming alcohol on operating

a motor vehicle.

This bill requires DOT to include knowledge of proper procedures for attaching

a trailer to a motor vehicle in its knowledge examination.