HB55: relative to driver education.

HB 55-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2023 SESSION

23-0126

02/04

HOUSE BILL 55-FN

AN ACT relative to driver education.

SPONSORS: Rep. Moffett, Merr. 4; Rep. Aron, Sull. 4; Rep. Ankarberg, Straf. 7; Rep. Harvey-Bolia, Belk. 3; Rep. Layon, Rock. 13; Rep. Trottier, Belk. 8; Sen. Lang, Dist 2

COMMITTEE: Transportation

ANALYSIS

This bill authorizes a waiver of the driver education requirement if a father, mother, guardian, or other responsible adult provides equivalent classroom instruction and behind the wheel training.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

23-0126

0204

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three

AN ACT relative to driver education.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Youth Operators' License; Eligibility. Amend RSA 263:14, II(a) to read as follows:

II.(a) The director shall issue a youth operator's license to applicants who are 16 years of age or older and under 21 years of age. The youth operator license shall expire on the 21st anniversary of the applicant's date of birth. In addition to any other requirements established by law, no such license shall be issued to applicants under 18 years of age unless the applicant meets the requirements of RSA 263:17 or furnishes written consent from the applicant's parent or legal guardian and either a certificate of successful completion of a driver education course as provided in RSA 263:19 or a waiver as provided in RSA 263:19, V.

2 New Paragraph; Driver Education; Waiver. Amend RSA 263:19 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph:

V. The commissioner shall waive the driver education course requirement if a father, mother, or guardian of the applicant, or in the event there is no parent or guardian, another responsible adult, submits in writing that the father, mother, or guardian of the applicant, or in the event there is no parent or guardian, another responsible adult, who has a valid New Hampshire driver's license, has provided for instruction, either in person or online, and 40 hours of behind-the-wheel training.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBA

23-0126

10/19/22

HB 55-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to driver education.

FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2023

FY 2024

FY 2025

FY 2026

Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Expenditures

$0

$25,000

$25,000

$25,000

Funding Source:

[ ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ X ] Other - Restricted - Driver Training Fund (RSA 263:52)

METHODOLOGY:

This bill authorizes a person under the age of 18 to request a waiver of completion of a formalized driver education school. To apply for a waiver, a father, mother, guardian or other responsible adult with a valid New Hampshire driver’s license would need to provide, in writing, that they have provided for instruction, either in person or online, and 40 hours of behind the wheel training has been completed. The bill indicates a responsible adult submits in writing that they have provided for instruction, either in person or online but does not indicate if documentation regarding content of said instruction is to be provided and no indication if said instruction should be comparable to a formal education course. A waiver would be issued solely based on the statement from the responsible adult indicating instruction has been provided. Currently the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has one staff member responsible for overseeing the driver education program. The waiver process will require the addition of one part time employee to ensure a timely review and response. The addition of one DMV part-time (25 hours per week) Program Assistant II (Labor Grade 15, Step 1) position will cost approximately $25,000 annually beginning in FY 2024.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Safety