1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; requiring drivers to complete a distracted driving 
1.3 	instructional course prior to obtaining an instruction permit; requiring a report;
1.4 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 171.05, subdivision 1b; proposing 
1.5 	coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 171.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 171.05, subdivision 1b, is amended to read:
1.8 		Subd. 1b.Instruction permit not issued. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision 1, the 
1.9 	commissioner shall not issue an instruction permit to a person under age 18 if the person 
1.10 	has ever been convicted of a violation of section 169A.20, 169A.33, or 169A.35; a violation 
1.11 	of a provision of sections 169A.50 to 169A.53; a violation of section 171.177; or a 
1.12 	crash-related moving violation.
1.13 	(b) The commissioner must not issue an instruction permit to an applicant unless the 
1.14 	person provides proof of completing a distracted driving instructional course, including a 
1.15 	signed pledge, as provided in section 171.0707.

1.16 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2019, and applies to individuals 
1.17 	applying for an instruction permit on or after that date.

1.18 	Sec. 2. [171.0707] DISTRACTED DRIVING INSTRUCTIONAL COURSE.
1.19 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have 
1.20 	the meanings given.
1.21 	(b) "Course" means the distracted driving instructional course established in this section.
1.22 	(c) "Municipality" means a county, home rule charter or statutory city, or town.
2.1 	(d) "Provider" means the entity selected by the commissioner to provide the course.
2.2 	(e) "Wireless communications device" has the meaning given in section 169.011, 
2.3 	subdivision 94.
2.4 		Subd. 2.Distracted driving instructional course. The purpose of the course is to 
2.5 	instruct drivers about the dangers of distracted driving due to using a wireless 
2.6 	communications device while driving. The course must last a minimum of 90 minutes and 
2.7 	must include classroom instruction and a victim impact panel. Upon completion of the 
2.8 	course, each individual must sign a pledge stating that the individual will not operate a 
2.9 	vehicle while using a wireless communications device in a manner that violates section 
2.10 	169.475 or any other traffic law.
2.11 		Subd. 3.Provider duties. A provider may charge each individual a fee up to $50 for 
2.12 	the course. The provider must offer the course in locations around the state so that no 
2.13 	individual is required to drive more than 100 miles to take the course. The provider must 
2.14 	transmit to the commissioner proof of each individual that has completed the course and a 
2.15 	copy of the signed pledge required by subdivision 2. The provider is not subject to the driver 
2.16 	training school's requirements in sections 171.33 to 171.41.
2.17 		Subd. 4.Department duties. (a) Notwithstanding the state vendor procurement process 
2.18 	in chapter 16C, the commissioner must select one provider to provide the course in the state. 
2.19 	The provider must be able to satisfy the requirements of this section.
2.20 	(b) The commissioner must establish standards for the curriculum and manner of 
2.21 	instruction. The standards established pursuant to this paragraph are not rules and are not 
2.22 	subject to the Administrative Procedure Act in chapter 14.
2.23 		Subd. 5.Report. By January 15 in each odd-numbered year, the commissioner and the 
2.24 	provider must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of 
2.25 	representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over transportation. At a minimum, 
2.26 	the report must include the number of individuals that have completed the course, the dates 
2.27 	and locations where the courses were offered, and the number of citations for using a wireless 
2.28 	communications device issued to people who have taken the course and to people who have 
2.29 	not taken the course.

2.30 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2019, and applies to individuals 
2.31 	applying for an instruction permit on or after that date.

3.1 	Sec. 3. TRANSITION.
 3.2 	Between July 1, 2019, and January 1, 2020, any individual who is younger than 18 years 
3.3 	old, has an instruction permit or a provisional driver's license, and was not required to take 
3.4 	the distracted driving course as required by Minnesota Statutes, sections 171.05, subdivision 
3.5 	1b, and 171.0707, is required to take a distracted driving instructional course that meets the 
3.6 	requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 171.0707, before applying for a driver's license. 
3.7 	The commissioner must not issue a driver's license to an applicant unless the person provides 
3.8 	proof of completing a distracted driving instructional course, including a signed pledge, as 
3.9 	provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 171.0707.

3.10 	EFFECTIVE DATE; EXPIRATION. This section is effective July 1, 2019, and expires 
3.11 	January 1, 2020.