HF 575

1st Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:39am

A bill for an act
relating to drivers' licenses; modifying driver education requirements for
obtaining an instruction permit; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
171.05, subdivision 2.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, 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 has completed:
new text end

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

deleted text begin (ii) an approved behind-the-wheel driver education program deleted text end new text begin (B) home-classroom
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
homeschool diploma, the student's status as a homeschool 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 deleted text begin of public safety deleted text end ; new text begin or
new text end

new text begin (C) an Internet-based theory driver education program that is approved by the
commissioner; and
new text end

new text begin (ii) the applicant is enrolled in or has completed behind-the-wheel training in
a public, private, or commercial driver education program that is approved by the
commissioner;
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 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 (v) 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.