HF 615

1st Engrossment - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 04/14/2011 03:09pm

A bill for an act
relating to drivers' licenses; modifying driver education requirements for
obtaining an instruction permit; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section
171.05, subdivision 2.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, 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 deleted text begin is enrolled in either deleted text end :

(i) new text begin the applicant is enrolled in behind-the-wheel training in a public, private, or
commercial driver education program that is approved by the commissioner of public
safety; and
new text end

new text begin (ii) the applicant:
new text end

new text begin (A) has completed the classroom phase of instruction in new text end a public, private, or
commercial driver education program that is approved by the commissioner of public
safety deleted text begin and that includes classroom and behind-the-wheel training; or
deleted text end

deleted text begin (ii) an approved behind-the-wheel driver education program deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end

new text begin (B) has completed home school driver training, new text end 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 deleted text begin homeschool deleted text end new text begin home school new text end diploma, the student's
status as a deleted text begin homeschool deleted text end new text begin home school new text end student has been certified by the superintendent of
the school district in which the student resides, and the deleted text begin student is taking home-classroom
driver training with deleted text end classroom materials new text begin are new text end approved by the commissioner of public
safety; new text begin or
new text end

new text begin (C) has completed an Internet-based theory driver education program that is
approved by the commissioner of public safety;
new text end

deleted text begin (2) has completed the classroom phase of instruction in the driver education program;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) deleted text end new text begin (2) new text end has passed a test of the applicant's eyesight;

deleted text begin (4) deleted text end new text begin (3) new text end has passed a department-administered test of the applicant's knowledge
of traffic laws;

deleted text begin (5) deleted text end new text begin (4) new text end 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

deleted text begin (6) deleted text end new text begin (5) new text end has paid the fee required in section 171.06, subdivision 2.

(b) 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.

new text begin (c) A provider of an Internet-based theory driver education program approved by
the commissioner shall issue a certificate of completion to each person who successfully
completes the program. The commissioner shall furnish numbered certificate forms to
approved providers who shall pay the commissioner a fee of $2 for each certificate. The
commissioner shall deposit proceeds of the fee in the driver services operating account in
the special revenue fund. The commissioner shall terminate the fee when the department
has fully recovered its costs to implement Internet driver education under this section.
new text end