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HF 646

1st Engrossment - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/13/2013 06:56pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.
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A bill for an act
relating to public safety; drivers' licenses; driver education; modifying and
clarifying provisions relating to instruction permits; establishing a Novice Driver
Education Improvement Task Force; authorizing rulemaking; appropriating
money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 171.05, subdivision 2, by
adding a subdivision; 171.0701, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 171.05, subdivision 2, is amended to read:


Subd. 2.

Person less than 18 years of age.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision
in subdivision 1 to the contrary, the department may issue an instruction permit to an
applicant who is 15, 16, or 17 years of age and who:

(1) has completed a course of driver education in another state, has a previously
issued valid license from another state, or is enrolled in either:

(i) a public, private, or commercial driver education program that is approved by
the commissioner of public safety and that includes classroom and behind-the-wheel
training; or

(ii) an approved behind-the-wheel driver education program when the student is
receiving full-time instruction in a home school within the meaning of sections 120A.22
and 120A.24, the student is working toward a homeschool diploma, the student is taking
home-classroom driver training with classroom materials approved by the commissioner
of public safety, and the student's parent has certified the student's homeschool and
home-classroom driver training status on the form approved by the commissioner;

(2) has completed the classroom phase of instruction in the driver education program
new text begin or has completed 15 hours of classroom instruction in a program that presents classroom
and behind-the-wheel instruction concurrently
new text end ;

(3) has passed a test of the applicant's eyesight;

(4) has passed a department-administered test of the applicant's knowledge of traffic
laws;

(5) has completed the required application, which must be approved by (i) either
parent when both reside in the same household as the minor applicant or, if otherwise,
then (ii) the parent or spouse of the parent having custody or, in the event there is no
court order for custody, then (iii) the parent or spouse of the parent with whom the minor
is living or, if items (i) to (iii) do not apply, then (iv) the guardian having custody of the
minor, (v) the foster parent or the director of the transitional living program in which the
child resides or, in the event a person under the age of 18 has no living father, mother,
or guardian, or is married or otherwise legally emancipated, then (vi) the applicant's
adult spouse, adult close family member, or adult employer; provided, that the approval
required by this clause contains a verification of the age of the applicant and the identity of
the parent, guardian, adult spouse, adult close family member, or adult employer; and

(6) has paid deleted text begin the feedeleted text end new text begin all fees new text end required in section 171.06, subdivision 2.

(b) For the purposes of determining compliance with the certification of paragraph
(a), clause (1), item (ii), the commissioner may request verification of a student's
homeschool status from the superintendent of the school district in which the student
resides and the superintendent shall provide that verification.

(c) The instruction permit is valid for two years from the date of application and
may be renewed upon payment of a fee equal to the fee for issuance of an instruction
permit under section 171.06, subdivision 2.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 171.05, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:


new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Rulemaking. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall adopt rules to carry out the
provisions of subdivision 2. The rules adopted under this subdivision are exempt from the
rulemaking provisions of chapter 14. The rules are subject to section 14.386, except that
section 14.386, paragraph (b), does not apply.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 171.0701, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:


new text begin Subd. 1a. new text end

new text begin Novice Driver Education Improvement Task Force. new text end

new text begin (a) The
Novice Driver Education Improvement Task Force is established to ensure driver
education programs in Minnesota meet the Novice Teen Driver Education and Training
Administrative Standards published by the United States Department of Transportation,
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
new text end

new text begin (b) The task force consists of 21 members:
new text end

new text begin (1) the commissioner of public safety or the commissioner's designee;
new text end

new text begin (2) two representatives from and designated by the Minnesota Association of
Student Councils;
new text end

new text begin (3) one representative from and designated by Mothers Against Drunk Driving;
new text end

new text begin (4) one representative from and designated by Minnesotans for Safe Driving;
new text end

new text begin (5) two representatives from law enforcement organizations, such as the Minnesota
Chiefs of Police Association and the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association appointed by the
commissioner;
new text end

new text begin (6) one representative from and designated by the American Automobile Association;
new text end

new text begin (7) one representative from and designated by the Minnesota Safety Council;
new text end

new text begin (8) two representatives from and designated by the Minnesota PTA;
new text end

new text begin (9) five driver educators from the Minnesota Driver and Traffic Safety Education
Association designated by the commissioner; and
new text end

new text begin (10) five driver educators from commercial driving schools, designated by the
commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (c) Any vacancies shall be filled by the appointing or designating authorities.
new text end

new text begin (d) Members shall serve without compensation.
new text end

new text begin (e) Members shall be appointed or designated by August 1, 2013.
new text end

new text begin (f) The commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall convene the first meeting
of the task force after all appointments have been made. At the first meeting, the task
force shall elect a chair from among its members by majority vote. The first meeting must
take place by September 1, 2013.
new text end

new text begin (g) The duties of the task force are to examine and compare Minnesota law and
rules concerning driver education with the Novice Teen Driver Education and Training
Administrative Standards, identify discrepancies, and determine to what extent, if any,
state law should be modified to conform with federal standards.
new text end

new text begin (h) The commissioner shall provide support staff and administrative services for
the task force.
new text end

new text begin (i) The task force shall submit a report no later than August 31, 2015, to the
chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees having jurisdiction
over transportation policy and finance, containing its recommendation as to whether
or to what extent Minnesota's driver education programs should conform to national
standards referenced in paragraph (a), and if so, providing draft legislation necessary or
desirable to achieve the recommended level of federal conformity. The report may present
recommendations for improving Minnesota's driver education curriculum and identify
associated costs.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin $....... is appropriated from the ....... fund to the commissioner of public safety
for the costs of this act.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Section 1 is effective June 1, 2014. Section 2 is effective the day following final
enactment. Section 3 is effective the day following final enactment and expires September
1, 2015, or the day after the task force created in section 3 submits its report, as required in
section 3, paragraph (i), whichever occurs first.
new text end