Bill Text: MN HF646 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Driver instruction permit provisions modified and clarified, Novice Driver Education Improvement Task Force established, rulemaking authorized, funding provided, and money appropriated.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-20 - Committee report, to pass as amended and re-refer to Transportation Finance [HF646 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-HF646-Engrossed.html
1.2relating to public safety; drivers' licenses; driver education; modifying and
1.3clarifying provisions relating to instruction permits; establishing a Novice Driver
1.4Education Improvement Task Force; authorizing rulemaking; appropriating
1.5money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 171.05, subdivision 2, by
1.6adding a subdivision; 171.0701, by adding a subdivision.
1.7BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 171.05, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.9 Subd. 2. Person less than 18 years of age. (a) Notwithstanding any provision
1.10in subdivision 1 to the contrary, the department may issue an instruction permit to an
1.11applicant who is 15, 16, or 17 years of age and who:
1.12(1) has completed a course of driver education in another state, has a previously
1.13issued valid license from another state, or is enrolled in either:
1.14(i) a public, private, or commercial driver education program that is approved by
1.15the commissioner of public safety and that includes classroom and behind-the-wheel
1.16training; or
1.17(ii) an approved behind-the-wheel driver education program when the student is
1.18receiving full-time instruction in a home school within the meaning of sections120A.22
1.19and
120A.24 , the student is working toward a homeschool diploma, the student is taking
1.20home-classroom driver training with classroom materials approved by the commissioner
1.21of public safety, and the student's parent has certified the student's homeschool and
1.22home-classroom driver training status on the form approved by the commissioner;
1.23(2) has completed the classroom phase of instruction in the driver education program
1.24 or has completed 15 hours of classroom instruction in a program that presents classroom
1.25and behind-the-wheel instruction concurrently;
2.1(3) has passed a test of the applicant's eyesight;
2.2(4) has passed a department-administered test of the applicant's knowledge of traffic
2.3laws;
2.4(5) has completed the required application, which must be approved by (i) either
2.5parent when both reside in the same household as the minor applicant or, if otherwise,
2.6then (ii) the parent or spouse of the parent having custody or, in the event there is no
2.7court order for custody, then (iii) the parent or spouse of the parent with whom the minor
2.8is living or, if items (i) to (iii) do not apply, then (iv) the guardian having custody of the
2.9minor, (v) the foster parent or the director of the transitional living program in which the
2.10child resides or, in the event a person under the age of 18 has no living father, mother,
2.11or guardian, or is married or otherwise legally emancipated, then (vi) the applicant's
2.12adult spouse, adult close family member, or adult employer; provided, that the approval
2.13required by this clause contains a verification of the age of the applicant and the identity of
2.14the parent, guardian, adult spouse, adult close family member, or adult employer; and
2.15(6) has paidthe fee all fees required in section
171.06, subdivision 2 .
2.16(b) For the purposes of determining compliance with the certification of paragraph
2.17(a), clause (1), item (ii), the commissioner may request verification of a student's
2.18homeschool status from the superintendent of the school district in which the student
2.19resides and the superintendent shall provide that verification.
2.20(c) The instruction permit is valid for two years from the date of application and
2.21may be renewed upon payment of a fee equal to the fee for issuance of an instruction
2.22permit under section171.06, subdivision 2 .
2.23 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 171.05, is amended by adding a subdivision
2.24to read:
2.25 Subd. 4. Rulemaking. The commissioner shall adopt rules to carry out the
2.26provisions of subdivision 2.
2.27 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 171.0701, is amended by adding a subdivision
2.28to read:
2.29 Subd. 1a. Novice Driver Education Improvement Task Force. (a) The
2.30Novice Driver Education Improvement Task Force is established to ensure driver
2.31education programs in Minnesota meet the Novice Teen Driver Education and Training
2.32Administrative Standards published by the United States Department of Transportation,
2.33National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
2.34(b) The task force consists of 21 members:
3.1(1) the commissioner of public safety or the commissioner's designee;
3.2(2) two representatives from and designated by the Minnesota Association of
3.3Student Councils;
3.4(3) one representative from and designated by Mothers Against Drunk Driving;
3.5(4) one representative from and designated by Minnesotans for Safe Driving;
3.6(5) two representatives from law enforcement organizations, such as the Minnesota
3.7Chiefs of Police Association and the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association appointed by the
3.8commissioner;
3.9(6) one representative from and designated by the American Automobile Association;
3.10(7) one representative from and designated by the Minnesota Safety Council;
3.11(8) two representatives from and designated by the Minnesota PTA;
3.12(9) five driver educators from the Minnesota Driver and Traffic Safety Education
3.13Association designated by the commissioner; and
3.14(10) five driver educators from commercial driving schools, designated by the
3.15commissioner.
3.16(c) Any vacancies shall be filled by the appointing or designating authorities.
3.17(d) Members shall serve without compensation.
3.18(e) Members shall be appointed or designated by August 1, 2013.
3.19(f) The commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall convene the first meeting
3.20of the task force after all appointments have been made. At the first meeting, the task
3.21force shall elect a chair from among its members by majority vote. The first meeting must
3.22take place by September 1, 2013.
3.23(g) The duties of the task force are to examine and compare Minnesota law and
3.24rules concerning driver education with the Novice Teen Driver Education and Training
3.25Administrative Standards, identify discrepancies, and determine to what extent, if any,
3.26state law should be modified to conform with federal standards.
3.27(h) The commissioner shall provide support staff and administrative services for
3.28the task force.
3.29(i) The task force shall submit a report no later than August 31, 2015, to the
3.30chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees having jurisdiction
3.31over transportation policy and finance, containing its recommendation as to whether
3.32or to what extent Minnesota's driver education programs should conform to national
3.33standards referenced in paragraph (a), and if so, providing draft legislation necessary or
3.34desirable to achieve the recommended level of federal conformity. The report may present
3.35recommendations for improving Minnesota's driver education curriculum and identify
3.36associated costs.
4.1 Sec. 4. APPROPRIATIONS.
4.2$....... is appropriated from the ....... fund to the commissioner of public safety
4.3for the costs of this act.
4.4 Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
4.5Section 1 is effective June 1, 2014. Section 2 is effective the day following final
4.6enactment. Section 3 is effective the day following final enactment and expires September
4.71, 2015, or the day after the task force created in section 3 submits its report, as required in
4.8section 3, paragraph (i), whichever occurs first.
1.3clarifying provisions relating to instruction permits; establishing a Novice Driver
1.4Education Improvement Task Force; authorizing rulemaking; appropriating
1.5money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 171.05, subdivision 2, by
1.6adding a subdivision; 171.0701, by adding a subdivision.
1.7BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 171.05, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.9 Subd. 2. Person less than 18 years of age. (a) Notwithstanding any provision
1.10in subdivision 1 to the contrary, the department may issue an instruction permit to an
1.11applicant who is 15, 16, or 17 years of age and who:
1.12(1) has completed a course of driver education in another state, has a previously
1.13issued valid license from another state, or is enrolled in either:
1.14(i) a public, private, or commercial driver education program that is approved by
1.15the commissioner of public safety and that includes classroom and behind-the-wheel
1.16training; or
1.17(ii) an approved behind-the-wheel driver education program when the student is
1.18receiving full-time instruction in a home school within the meaning of sections
1.20home-classroom driver training with classroom materials approved by the commissioner
1.21of public safety, and the student's parent has certified the student's homeschool and
1.22home-classroom driver training status on the form approved by the commissioner;
1.23(2) has completed the classroom phase of instruction in the driver education program
1.24 or has completed 15 hours of classroom instruction in a program that presents classroom
1.25and behind-the-wheel instruction concurrently;
2.1(3) has passed a test of the applicant's eyesight;
2.2(4) has passed a department-administered test of the applicant's knowledge of traffic
2.3laws;
2.4(5) has completed the required application, which must be approved by (i) either
2.5parent when both reside in the same household as the minor applicant or, if otherwise,
2.6then (ii) the parent or spouse of the parent having custody or, in the event there is no
2.7court order for custody, then (iii) the parent or spouse of the parent with whom the minor
2.8is living or, if items (i) to (iii) do not apply, then (iv) the guardian having custody of the
2.9minor, (v) the foster parent or the director of the transitional living program in which the
2.10child resides or, in the event a person under the age of 18 has no living father, mother,
2.11or guardian, or is married or otherwise legally emancipated, then (vi) the applicant's
2.12adult spouse, adult close family member, or adult employer; provided, that the approval
2.13required by this clause contains a verification of the age of the applicant and the identity of
2.14the parent, guardian, adult spouse, adult close family member, or adult employer; and
2.15(6) has paid
2.16(b) For the purposes of determining compliance with the certification of paragraph
2.17(a), clause (1), item (ii), the commissioner may request verification of a student's
2.18homeschool status from the superintendent of the school district in which the student
2.19resides and the superintendent shall provide that verification.
2.20(c) The instruction permit is valid for two years from the date of application and
2.21may be renewed upon payment of a fee equal to the fee for issuance of an instruction
2.22permit under section
2.23 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 171.05, is amended by adding a subdivision
2.24to read:
2.25 Subd. 4. Rulemaking. The commissioner shall adopt rules to carry out the
2.26provisions of subdivision 2.
2.27 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 171.0701, is amended by adding a subdivision
2.28to read:
2.29 Subd. 1a. Novice Driver Education Improvement Task Force. (a) The
2.30Novice Driver Education Improvement Task Force is established to ensure driver
2.31education programs in Minnesota meet the Novice Teen Driver Education and Training
2.32Administrative Standards published by the United States Department of Transportation,
2.33National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
2.34(b) The task force consists of 21 members:
3.1(1) the commissioner of public safety or the commissioner's designee;
3.2(2) two representatives from and designated by the Minnesota Association of
3.3Student Councils;
3.4(3) one representative from and designated by Mothers Against Drunk Driving;
3.5(4) one representative from and designated by Minnesotans for Safe Driving;
3.6(5) two representatives from law enforcement organizations, such as the Minnesota
3.7Chiefs of Police Association and the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association appointed by the
3.8commissioner;
3.9(6) one representative from and designated by the American Automobile Association;
3.10(7) one representative from and designated by the Minnesota Safety Council;
3.11(8) two representatives from and designated by the Minnesota PTA;
3.12(9) five driver educators from the Minnesota Driver and Traffic Safety Education
3.13Association designated by the commissioner; and
3.14(10) five driver educators from commercial driving schools, designated by the
3.15commissioner.
3.16(c) Any vacancies shall be filled by the appointing or designating authorities.
3.17(d) Members shall serve without compensation.
3.18(e) Members shall be appointed or designated by August 1, 2013.
3.19(f) The commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall convene the first meeting
3.20of the task force after all appointments have been made. At the first meeting, the task
3.21force shall elect a chair from among its members by majority vote. The first meeting must
3.22take place by September 1, 2013.
3.23(g) The duties of the task force are to examine and compare Minnesota law and
3.24rules concerning driver education with the Novice Teen Driver Education and Training
3.25Administrative Standards, identify discrepancies, and determine to what extent, if any,
3.26state law should be modified to conform with federal standards.
3.27(h) The commissioner shall provide support staff and administrative services for
3.28the task force.
3.29(i) The task force shall submit a report no later than August 31, 2015, to the
3.30chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees having jurisdiction
3.31over transportation policy and finance, containing its recommendation as to whether
3.32or to what extent Minnesota's driver education programs should conform to national
3.33standards referenced in paragraph (a), and if so, providing draft legislation necessary or
3.34desirable to achieve the recommended level of federal conformity. The report may present
3.35recommendations for improving Minnesota's driver education curriculum and identify
3.36associated costs.
4.1 Sec. 4. APPROPRIATIONS.
4.2$....... is appropriated from the ....... fund to the commissioner of public safety
4.3for the costs of this act.
4.4 Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
4.5Section 1 is effective June 1, 2014. Section 2 is effective the day following final
4.6enactment. Section 3 is effective the day following final enactment and expires September
4.71, 2015, or the day after the task force created in section 3 submits its report, as required in
4.8section 3, paragraph (i), whichever occurs first.
