HF 3071

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/22/2023 08:13am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; creating a Plain Language Driver's Manual and Written
Examination Working Group; requiring a report; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin PLAIN LANGUAGE DRIVER'S MANUAL AND WRITTEN
EXAMINATION WORKING GROUP.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Creation. new text end

new text begin The Plain Language Driver's Manual and Written Examination
Working Group is established to study accessibility and equity issues concerning confusing
and complex language in Minnesota's driver's license examination process. The working
group consists of the following 15 members:
new text end

new text begin (1) two senators, including one member from the majority party and one member from
the minority party, appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on
Rules and Administration of the senate;
new text end

new text begin (2) two members of the house of representatives, including one member appointed by
the speaker of the house and one member appointed by the minority leader;
new text end

new text begin (3) the director of the Division of Driver and Vehicle Services or a designee;
new text end

new text begin (4) the commissioner of public safety or a designee who must not be the director of the
Division of Driver and Vehicle Services;
new text end

new text begin (5) two Minnesota teachers currently licensed as a teacher of English as a second
language, one of whom must teach in the seven-county metropolitan area and one of whom
must teach outside of the seven-county metropolitan area;
new text end

new text begin (6) one Minnesota driver education instructor who teaches driver education at a
commercial driver training school;
new text end

new text begin (7) one Minnesota teacher currently licensed for driver training by the Professional
Educator Licensing and Standards Board;
new text end

new text begin (8) two members of the public between the ages of 18 and 25 who:
new text end

new text begin (i) are currently licensed to drive in Minnesota;
new text end

new text begin (ii) completed a driver's education program offered at a public school, private school,
or commercial driver training school; and
new text end

new text begin (iii) were enrolled in an English as a second language or bilingual education program
while in high school;
new text end

new text begin (9) one member of the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs;
new text end

new text begin (10) one member of the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage; and
new text end

new text begin (11) one member of the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Duties and report. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this subdivision, "plain language" means
writing that is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate
to the subject or field and intended audience.
new text end

new text begin (b) The working group must identify strategies, recommendations, and a process for
rewriting the Division of Driver and Vehicle Services driver's manual and written driver's
license examination in simple and clear language under the guidelines established by the
federal Plain Writing Act, Public Law 111-274, to make the examination more accessible
to the public and a more equitable assessment of driving knowledge. The working group
must:
new text end

new text begin (1) review, analyze, and provide comment on federal plain language writing guidelines;
new text end

new text begin (2) review the current driver's manual and written driver's license examination for clarity
based on federal plain language guidelines;
new text end

new text begin (3) analyze how to incorporate plain language best practices into the driver's manual
and written driver's license examination;
new text end

new text begin (4) suggest any needed revisions to the driver's manual and written driver's license
examination based on federal plain language guidelines;
new text end

new text begin (5) report proposed strategies to make the driver's manual and written driver's license
examination more readable and accessible;
new text end

new text begin (6) take testimony and public comment from bilingual or English as a second language
Minnesotans who have taken the written driver's license examination in English; and
new text end

new text begin (7) draft legislation, including any recommended changes to current Minnesota Statutes,
section 171.13, or any recommended changes to the Division of Driver and Vehicle Services
Test Maintenance Committee.
new text end

new text begin (c) By July 1, 2024, the working group must submit a report to the chairs and ranking
minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over transportation. The
report must state findings and recommendations concerning the current driver's manual and
written driver's license examination and how they can be revised to include plain language
best practices. The report must state findings on recommending the development of a new
plain language written examination for driver's license applicants based on the application
of plain language best practices.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Administrative provisions. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of public safety or the
commissioner's designee must convene the initial meeting of the working group by August
1, 2023. Upon request of the working group, the commissioner must provide meeting space
and administrative services for the group. The members of the working group must elect
cochairs from the legislative members of the working group at the initial meeting.
new text end

new text begin (b) Public members of the working group serve without compensation or payment of
expenses.
new text end

new text begin (c) The working group expires on January 1, 2025, or upon submission of the report
required under subdivision 2, whichever is earlier.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Deadline for appointments and designations. new text end

new text begin The appointments and
designations authorized by this section must be completed by July 1, 2023.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $...... in fiscal year ... is appropriated from the general fund to the Legislative Coordinating
Commission for the purposes of the working group established in section 1.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end