Introduced By: Senators Connors and O'Leary
Date Introduced :January 29, 1998
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 31-10-19 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-10 entitled "Operators' and Chauffeurs' Licenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:
31-10-19. Driver education -- Traffic safety education.
-- (a) The department of elementary and secondary education
shall provide thirty-three (33) hours of classroom instruction
for applicants or prospective applicants, not more than {DEL eighteen
(18) DEL} {ADD twenty one (21) ADD}years of age for a first
operator's license, which instruction shall include eight (8)
hours, specifically for instruction on the effects of alcohol
and drugs on a driver, and the instruction shall be given by a
person eligible for a teacher's certificate issued under the authority
of the state board of regents and which course of instruction
shall be approved by the commissioner of elementary and secondary
education. The department of education shall ensure that each
person properly certified and approved to instruct driver education
courses shall be given an equal opportunity for employment as
an instructor within the driver education program. No person teaching
driver education under this section shall own, be employed by,
or be associated with a commercial driving school.
(b) Driver education instruction shall be available to any eligible resident applicant not less than fifteen (15) years and ten (10) months of age.
(c) That the state shall also provide a separate program of instruction, as set forth above, for special needs students whose individual education plan (IEP) indicates a need for a separate program of instruction.
(d) The community college of Rhode Island shall provide a driver training program for physically handicapped drivers. The program shall instruct the physically handicapped driver in the operation of adapted vehicles for the handicapped. The adapted vehicles are to be provided by the handicapped individual. A physically handicapped person must be certified by a licensed physician that he or she is physically handicapped and possesses sufficient potential to become a competent motor vehicle operator. The community college of Rhode Island shall establish a tuition fee sufficient to cover the cost of the program.
(e) A tuition or enrollment fee shall be required to be paid by an eligible applicant in accordance with rules and regulations of the commissioner of elementary and secondary education; provided, however, that personal checks shall be an acceptable method of payment of the tuition or enrollment fee. The tuition or enrollment fee shall be deposited as general revenues.
(f) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education is hereby authorized to establish administrative regulations to further implement this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 1999 .