Minnesota Session Laws - 2024, Regular Session

CHAPTER 89--H.F.No. 3071

An act

relating to transportation; driver and vehicle services; requiring incorporation of plain language standards for written driver's examinations and the driver's manual; requiring a report; appropriating money;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 171.13, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 171.13, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end

new text begin Written examination plain language requirements. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms have the meanings given: new text end

new text begin (1) "committee" means the Department of Public Safety, Division of Driver and Vehicle Services Test Maintenance Committee responsible for monitoring, reviewing, and editing the written portion of the driver's knowledge examination on behalf of the Division of Driver and Vehicle Services; new text end

new text begin (2) "plain language standards" means the requirements specified in paragraph (b) and the requirements of the Plain Writing Act, Public Law 111-274, and governor's Executive Order 14-07; and new text end

new text begin (3) "written examination" means the written portion of the driver's knowledge examination in English and administered under this section. new text end

new text begin (b) By February 1, 2025, the commissioner must implement plain language standards and create a new written portion of the knowledge examination to ensure the written examination is a fair assessment of the state's traffic and driving laws. The new written portion of the knowledge examination, to the extent practicable, must be organized to serve the reader's needs and written using clear, simplified language with the following grammatical standards: new text end

new text begin (1) "you" and other pronouns address the test-taker directly; new text end

new text begin (2) utilize the active voice; new text end

new text begin (3) use short, simple sentences and straightforward questions; new text end

new text begin (4) avoid complex and compound sentence structures; new text end

new text begin (5) utilize commonly used and familiar words; new text end

new text begin (6) avoid turning verbs into nouns through nominalization; new text end

new text begin (7) minimize the use of abbreviations; new text end

new text begin (8) place words carefully to avoid large gaps between the subject, verb, and object in a sentence; new text end

new text begin (9) avoid confusing terms such as "either, or" and "neither, nor"; new text end

new text begin (10) utilize simple verb tenses, including the simple present verb tense where practicable, to explain confusing or complex concepts; new text end

new text begin (11) omit double negatives and terms like "except for," "unless," and "indicated otherwise"; new text end

new text begin (12) avoid hidden terms and use concrete, familiar words to describe confusing or complex concepts or items; new text end

new text begin (13) omit excess and unnecessary words; new text end

new text begin (14) use the word "must" to express requirements; new text end

new text begin (15) put exceptions at the end of a question; new text end

new text begin (16) place modifying terms in correct locations; and new text end

new text begin (17) any other recommended strategies and techniques designed to offer clear communication to test-takers. new text end

new text begin (c) Any revisions or additions to the subjects tested on a knowledge examination must be written utilizing the plain language standards specified in paragraph (b). Revisions made to the written examination must assess whether the applicant understands the traffic laws of Minnesota and test knowledge of the requirements specified in subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clauses (2) and (3). new text end

new text begin (d) The committee must convene its first meeting by August 1, 2024. Before publication of the new written examination under plain language requirements, the committee must meet at least four times before January 1, 2025. The commissioner of public safety may enter into an agreement with a third party to propose, draft, and revise the written examination under the requirements of this subdivision. new text end

new text begin (e) The commissioner may adopt plain language standards into other Division of Driver and Vehicle Services materials, including the driver's manual under section 171.0705. new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin REPORT; PLAIN LANGUAGE IMPLEMENTATION. new text end

new text begin By February 1, 2026, the commissioner must submit a report to the chairs, ranking minority members, and legislative staff including but not limited to counsel, fiscal analyst, committee assistant, caucus research, and legislative assistants of the chairs and ranking minority members of the committees having jurisdiction over transportation finance and policy. The report must detail the implementation of plain language standards for the written portion of the driver's knowledge examination required under Minnesota Statutes, section 171.13, subdivision 10, and include: new text end

new text begin (1) a comprehensive analysis on the new written portion of the driver's knowledge examination compared to its offerings in languages other than English; new text end

new text begin (2) a report on the committee's consideration, adoption, and implementation of plain language standards; new text end

new text begin (3) whether the Division of Driver and Vehicle Services anticipates hiring and staffing issues related to the implementation of plain language standards for future written examinations; new text end

new text begin (4) total expenditures on implementation of plain language standards; new text end

new text begin (5) any recommended additions or modifications to the plain language standards to improve reader comprehension; and new text end

new text begin (6) feedback from driver's education programs, employees who administer written examinations, the public, and English as a second language professionals. new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin APPROPRIATION. new text end

new text begin (a) $212,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the driver and vehicle services operating account in the special revenue fund to the commissioner of public safety for costs related to: (1) rewriting the driver's manual and the written portion of the driver's knowledge examination with the plain language standards required under Minnesota Statutes, section 171.13, subdivision 10, including translations into other languages as determined by the commissioner; and (2) the report under section 2. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2026. new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of public safety may use the funds appropriated under this section to enter into an agreement with a third party to participate in revisions to meet the plain language requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section 171.13, subdivision 10, and to provide plain language analysis of materials provided and offered to the public as part of a driver's license application and driver education, including the driver's manual. new text end

Presented to the governor May 7, 2024

Signed by the governor May 8, 2024, 12:34 p.m.