| Chapter 291 |
| 2018 -- S 3010 Enacted 07/02/2018 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - DRIVER EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS |
| Introduced By: Senators Goldin, Miller, Cano, Euer, and Quezada |
| Date Introduced: June 23, 2018 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 31-10-20 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-10 entitled "Operators' |
| and Chauffeurs' Licenses" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 31-10-20. Driver education course requirement before licensing. |
| (a) No limited-instruction permit or license shall be issued to any person not more than |
| eighteen (18) years of age unless that person shall have successfully completed a course of |
| instruction as provided in § 31-10-19, or a similar course of instruction recognized by the Rhode |
| Island board of governors for higher education as equivalent to it. However, any person who is |
| over eighteen (18) years of age and has been a holder of a motor vehicle operator's license issued |
| to that person by any other state, territory, or possession of the United States, or any other |
| sovereignty for a period of one year immediately prior to his or her application for a license under |
| this chapter shall not be required to comply with the provisions of this section. |
| (b) Commencing on July 1, 2004, no limited-instruction permit or license shall be issued |
| to any person not more than eighteen (18) years of age unless that person shall have successfully |
| completed a course of instruction as provided in § 31-10-19, or a similar course of instruction in |
| another state recognized by the Rhode Island board of governors for higher education as |
| equivalent to it. In determining whether a course is equivalent, the Rhode Island board of |
| governors for higher education shall at a minimum require: (1) that That the course consist of at |
| least thirty-three (33) instructional hours which that substantially conform with the current |
| curriculum utilized by the instructor(s) at the Community College of Rhode Island, including a |
| minimum of three (3) hours of instruction focusing upon specific Rhode Island traffic laws, the |
| specific requirements of the Rhode Island graduated-licensing statute in § 31-10-6, and eight (8) |
| hours specifically for instruction on the effects of alcohol and drugs on a driver. All driver's |
| education programs shall include information concerning the revised uniform Anatomical Gift |
| Act, chapter 18.6 18.6.1 of title 23, and information on donor cards pursuant to the applicable |
| provisions of chapter 18.6 18.6.1 of title 23; (2) that That the instructor holds a valid teacher's |
| certificate; (3) that That the instructor satisfactorily completes at least a three-(3) credit (3) |
| course in traffic safety education at an accredited institution of higher education; and (4) that |
| That the program does not offer outside the classroom road test instruction or driving lessons to |
| Rhode Island students. However, any person who is over eighteen (18) years of age and has been |
| a holder of a motor vehicle operator's license issued to that person by any other state, territory, or |
| possession of the United States, or any other sovereignty for a period of one year immediately |
| prior to his or her application for a license under this chapter shall not be required to comply with |
| the provisions of this section. |
| (c) The driver's education course and driver's license examination shall include material |
| pertaining to a driver's rights and responsibilities when stopped by a law enforcement officer as |
| explained during the driver education course, including, but not limited to, rights provided to |
| drivers pursuant to chapter 21. 2 of title 31, the "comprehensive community-police relationship |
| act of 2015". |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC005957 |
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