(REPRINTED WITH ADOPTED AMENDMENTS)

                          THIRD REPRINT                                    A.B. 271

 

Assembly Bill No. 271–Assemblymen Humke, Gibbons, Von Tobel, Bache, Beers, Dini, Goldwater, McClain, Mortenson, Neighbors, Price and Williams

 

March 5, 2001

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Education

 

SUMMARY—Revises provisions concerning education and training of drivers. (BDR 34‑1011)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: No.

                             Effect on the State: Yes.

 

~

 

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

 

AN ACT relating to the training of drivers; requiring the state board of education to adopt regulations governing automobile driver education in public schools; prohibiting certain younger drivers from transporting certain persons as passengers for a certain period after obtaining a driver’s license; requiring certain younger drivers to hold an instruction permit for a certain period before applying for a driver’s license; extending the period for which a person is authorized to hold an instruction permit; authorizing licensed schools for training drivers to use certain interactive technologies in lieu of actual classroom instruction; requiring an instructor of a school for training drivers to complete certain training before his license as an instructor may be renewed by the department of motor vehicles and public safety; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1    Section 1. NRS 389.090 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-2    389.090  1.  The state board shall adopt regulations governing the

1-3  establishment, conduct and scope of automobile driver education in the

1-4  public schools of this state. The regulations must set forth, without

1-5  limitation:

1-6    (a) The number of hours of training that must be completed by a pupil

1-7  who enrolls in a course in automobile driver education;

1-8    (b) That a course in automobile driver education may be conducted in

1-9  a classroom or motor vehicle, or both; and

1-10    (c) That if a course in automobile driver education is conducted both

1-11  in a classroom and in a motor vehicle, 1 hour of training in a motor

1-12  vehicle is equivalent to 3 hours of training in a classroom.


2-1    2.  The aims and purposes of automobile driver education are to

2-2  develop the knowledge, attitudes, habits and skills necessary for the safe

2-3  operation of motor vehicles.

2-4    3.  The board of trustees of a school district may establish and maintain

2-5  courses in automobile driver education [classes] during regular semesters

2-6  and summer sessions and during the regular school day and at times other

2-7  than during the regular school day for:

2-8    (a) Pupils enrolled in the regular full-time day high schools in the

2-9  school district.

2-10    (b) Pupils enrolled in summer classes conducted in high schools in the

2-11  school district.

2-12  A board of trustees maintaining courses in automobile driver education

2-13  shall insure against any liability arising out of the use of motor vehicles in

2-14  connection with those courses. The cost of the insurance must be paid from

2-15  available money of the school district . [funds.]

2-16    4.  A governing body of a charter school may establish and maintain

2-17  courses in automobile driver education [classes] if the governing body

2-18  insures against any liability arising out of the use of motor vehicles in

2-19  connection with those courses.

2-20    5.  Automobile driver education must be provided by boards of trustees

2-21  of school districts and governing bodies of charter schools in accordance

2-22  with the regulations of the state board and may not be duplicated by any

2-23  other agency, department, commission or officer of the State of Nevada.

2-24    6.  Each course in automobile driver education provided by a board of

2-25  trustees of a school district or a governing body of a charter school must

2-26  include, without limitation, instruction in:

2-27    (a) Motor vehicle insurance.

2-28    (b) The effect of drugs and alcohol on an operator of a motor vehicle.

2-29    7.  Each course in automobile driver education provided by a board of

2-30  trustees of a school district or a governing body of a charter school must be

2-31  restricted to pupils who are [sophomores, juniors or seniors in high school.]

2-32  at least 15 years of age.

2-33    Sec. 2.  Chapter 483 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto a

2-34  new section to read as follows:

2-35    1.  If a person is under the age of 16 years on the date on which the

2-36  department issues a license to him pursuant to NRS 483.250, he shall

2-37  not, during the 90 days immediately succeeding the date on which the

2-38  department issues that license, transport as a passenger in a motor

2-39  vehicle that he is driving any person under the age of 18 years unless

2-40  that passenger is a member of his immediate family.

2-41    2.  If a person is 16 years of age or older but less than 17 years of

2-42  age, on the date on which the department issues a license to him

2-43  pursuant to NRS 483.250, he shall not, during the 60 days immediately

2-44  succeeding the date on which the department issues that license,

2-45  transport as a passenger in a motor vehicle that he is driving any person

2-46  under the age of 18 years unless that passenger is a member of his

2-47  immediate family.

 


3-1    3.  If a person is 17 years of age or older but less than 18 years of

3-2  age, on the date on which the department issues a license to him

3-3  pursuant to NRS 483.250, he shall not, during the 30 days immediately

3-4  succeeding the date on which the department issues that license,

3-5  transport as a passenger in a motor vehicle that he is driving any person

3-6  under the age of 18 years unless that passenger is a member of his

3-7  immediate family.

3-8    Sec. 3.  NRS 483.250 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-9    483.250  The department shall not issue any license[under]pursuant

3-10  to the provisions of NRS 483.010 to 483.630, inclusive:

3-11    1.  To any person who is under the age of 18 years, except that the

3-12  department may issue:

3-13    (a) A restricted license to a person between the ages of 14 and 18 years

3-14  pursuant to the provisions of NRS 483.267 and 483.270.

3-15    (b) An instruction permit to a person who is at least 15 1/2 years of age

3-16  pursuant to the provisions of subsection 1 of NRS 483.280.

3-17    (c) A restricted instruction permit to a person under the age of 18 years

3-18  pursuant to the provisions of subsection 3 of NRS 483.280.

3-19    (d) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (e), a license to a person

3-20  between the ages of[16]15 3/4 and 18 years[who] if:

3-21      (1) He has completed a course:

3-22      [(1)] (I) In automobile driver education pursuant to NRS 389.090; or

3-23      [(2)] (II) Provided by a school for training drivers licensed pursuant

3-24  to NRS 483.700 to 483.780, inclusive, if the course complies with the

3-25  applicable regulations governing the establishment, conduct and scope of

3-26  automobile driver education adopted by the state board of education

3-27  pursuant to NRS 389.090[,

3-28  and who] ;

3-29      (2) He has at least 50 hours of experience in driving a motor vehicle

3-30  with a restricted license, instruction permit or restricted instruction permit

3-31  issued pursuant to NRS 483.267, 483.270 or 483.280 [. The];

3-32      (3) His parent or legal guardian [of a person who desires to obtain a

3-33  license pursuant to this paragraph must sign and submit]signs and submits

3-34  to the department a form provided by the department which attests that the

3-35  person who desires a license has completed the training and experience

3-36  required by [this paragraph.]subparagraph (2); and

3-37      (4) He has held an instruction permit for at least:

3-38         (I) Ninety days before he applies for the license, if he was under

3-39  the age of 16 years at the time he obtained the instruction permit;

3-40         (II) Sixty days before he applies for the license, if he was at least

3-41  16 years of age but less than 17 years of age at the time he obtained the

3-42  instruction permit; or

3-43         (III) Thirty days before he applies for the license, if he was at

3-44  least 17 years of age but less than 18 years of age at the time he obtained

3-45  the instruction permit.

3-46    (e) A license to a person who is between the ages of [16]15 3/4 and 18

3-47  years if:


4-1       (1) The public school in which he is enrolled is located in a county

4-2  whose population is less than 35,000 or in a city or town whose population

4-3  is less than 25,000;

4-4       (2) The public school does not offer automobile driver education;

4-5       (3) He has at least 50 hours of experience in driving a motor vehicle

4-6  with a restricted license, instruction permit or restricted instruction permit

4-7  issued pursuant to NRS 483.267, 483.270 or 483.280; [and]

4-8       (4) His parent or legal guardian signs and submits to the department a

4-9  form provided by the department which attests that the person who desires

4-10  a license has completed the experience required by subparagraph (3) [.];

4-11  and

4-12      (5) He has held an instruction permit for at least:

4-13         (I) Ninety days before he applies for the license, if he was under

4-14  the age of 16 years at the time he obtained the instruction permit;

4-15         (II) Sixty days before he applies for the license, if he was at least

4-16  16 years of age but less than 17 years of age at the time he obtained the

4-17  instruction permit; or

4-18         (III) Thirty days before he applies for the license, if he was at

4-19  least 17 years of age but less than 18 years of age at the time he obtained

4-20  the instruction permit.

4-21    2.  To any person whose license has been revoked until the expiration

4-22  of the period during which he is not eligible for a license.

4-23    3.  To any person whose license has been suspended, but [,] upon good

4-24  cause shown to the administrator, the department may issue a restricted

4-25  license to him or shorten any period of suspension.

4-26    4.  To any person who has previously been adjudged to be afflicted

4-27  with or suffering from any mental disability or disease and who has not at

4-28  the time of application been restored to legal capacity.

4-29    5.  To any person who is required by NRS 483.010 to 483.630,

4-30  inclusive, to take an examination, unless he has successfully passed the

4-31  examination.

4-32    6.  To any person when the administrator has good cause to believe that

4-33  by reason of physical or mental disability that person would not be able to

4-34  operate a motor vehicle safely.

4-35    7.  To any person who is not a resident of this state.

4-36    8.  To any child who is the subject of a court order issued pursuant to

4-37  paragraph (h) of subsection 1 of NRS 62.211, NRS 62.2255, 62.226 or

4-38  62.228 which delays his privilege to drive.

4-39    9.  To any person who is the subject of a court order issued pursuant to

4-40  NRS 206.330 which suspends or delays his privilege to drive until the

4-41  expiration of the period of suspension or delay.

4-42    Sec. 4.  NRS 483.280 is hereby amended to read as follows:

4-43    483.280  1.  Any person who is at least 15 1/2 years of age may apply

4-44  to the department for an instruction permit. The department may, in its

4-45  discretion, after the applicant has successfully passed all parts of the

4-46  examination other than the driving test, issue to the applicant an instruction

4-47  permit entitling the applicant, while having the permit in his immediate

4-48  possession, to drive a motor vehicle upon the highways for a period of [8

4-49  months]1 year when accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21


5-1  years of age, who has had at least 1 year of licensed driving experience in

5-2  the type of vehicle for which the permit was issued and who is actually

5-3  occupying a seat beside the driver, except when the permittee is occupying

5-4  a motorcycle. The term “licensed driving experience” as used in this

5-5  subsection does not include driving experience gained under an instruction

5-6  permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this section.

5-7    2.  The department may, in its discretion, issue a temporary driver’s

5-8  permit to an applicant for a driver’s license permitting him to drive a motor

5-9  vehicle while the department is completing its investigation and

5-10  determination of all facts relative to the applicant’s right to receive a

5-11  driver’s license. The permit must be in his immediate possession while

5-12  driving a motor vehicle, and is invalid when the applicant’s license has

5-13  been issued or for good cause has been refused.

5-14    3.  The department, upon receiving proper application, may, in its

5-15  discretion, issue a restricted instruction permit effective for a school year,

5-16  or for a more restricted period, to an applicant who is enrolled in a driver

5-17  education program which includes practice driving and which is approved

5-18  by the department even though the applicant has not reached the legal age

5-19  to be eligible for a driver’s license. The instruction permit entitles the

5-20  permittee, when he has the permit in his immediate possession, to drive a

5-21  motor vehicle only on a designated highway or within a designated area,

5-22  but only when an approved instructor is occupying a seat beside the

5-23  permittee.

5-24    Sec. 5.  NRS 483.725 is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-25    483.725  1.  Each course of training provided by a school for training

5-26  drivers licensed pursuant to NRS 483.700 to 483.780, inclusive, must

5-27  include, without limitation, instruction in:

5-28    [1.] (a) Motor vehicle insurance.

5-29    [2.] (b) The effect of drugs and alcohol on an operator of a motor

5-30  vehicle.

5-31    2.  If a course of training provided by a school for training drivers

5-32  licensed pursuant to NRS 483.700 to 483.780, inclusive, consists in whole

5-33  or in part of classroom instruction, that part of the course which consists

5-34  of classroom instruction may be taught interactively through the use of

5-35  communications technology so that persons taking the course need not

5-36  be physically present in a classroom.

5-37    3.  The department shall adopt regulations to carry out the provisions

5-38  of subsection 2. The regulations must include, without limitation:

5-39    (a) Provisions for the licensing and operation of interactive courses

5-40  that use communications technology;

5-41    (b) Provisions to ensure that interactive courses which use

5-42  communications technology are secure, reliable and include measures

5-43  for testing and security that are at least as secure as the measures for

5-44  testing and security which would be available in an ordinary classroom;

5-45  and

5-46    (c) Standards to ensure that interactive courses which use

5-47  communications technology offer a curriculum that is at least as

5-48  stringent as the curriculum which would be available in an ordinary

5-49  classroom.


6-1    4.  As used in this section, “communications technology” means any

6-2  method or component, or both, that is used by a school for training

6-3  drivers licensed pursuant to NRS 483.700 to 483.780, inclusive, to carry

6-4  out or facilitate the transmission of information, including, without

6-5  limitation, the transmission and reception of information by:

6-6    (a) Systems based on the following technologies:

6-7       (1) Video;

6-8       (2) Wire;

6-9       (3) Cable;

6-10      (4) Radio;

6-11      (5) Microwave;

6-12      (6) Light; or

6-13      (7) Optics; and

6-14    (b) Computer data networks, including, without limitation, the

6-15  Internet or its successor, if any, and intranet services.

6-16    Sec. 6.  NRS 483.730 is hereby amended to read as follows:

6-17    483.730  1.  The department shall issue a license to operate a school

6-18  for training drivers or to act as an instructor for such a school, if [it] the

6-19  department is satisfied that the applicant has met the qualifications

6-20  required by NRS 483.700 to 483.780, inclusive.

6-21    2.  The license is valid for 5 years after the date of issuance, unless

6-22  canceled, suspended or revoked by the department and, except as otherwise

6-23  provided in subsection 3, may be renewed subject to the same conditions as

6-24  the original license.

6-25    3.  The department may renew the license of an instructor of a school

6-26  for training drivers if, when he submits his application for the renewal of

6-27  his license, he provides evidence satisfactory to the department that, during

6-28  the period of the license, he completed [at least six credits of continuing

6-29  education by attending:

6-30    (a) A course of instruction relating to the training of drivers approved

6-31  by the department; or

6-32    (b) A state or national conference approved by the department of

6-33  education for credit for continuing education.

6-34    4.  In determining whether an instructor has complied with the

6-35  provisions of subsection 3, the department shall award one credit of

6-36  continuing education for the completion of each 15 hours of:

6-37    (a) Classroom instruction in a course specified in paragraph (a) of

6-38  subsection 3; or

6-39    (b) Attendance at a conference specified in paragraph (b) of subsection

6-40  3.] training of a type and in an amount prescribed by the department by

6-41  regulation.

6-42    Sec. 7.  Section 5 of chapter 407, Statutes of Nevada 1999, at page

6-43  1926, is hereby repealed.

6-44    Sec. 8.  1. This section and sections 1 to 4, inclusive, of this act

6-45  become effective on July 1, 2001.

6-46    2.  Sections 5, 6 and 7 of this act become effective on October 1, 2001.


 

 

7-1  TEXT OF REPEALED SECTION

 

 

7-2  Section 5 of chapter 407, Statutes of Nevada 1999:

7-3    Sec. 5.  The requirements for continuing education set forth in

7-4   NRS 483.730 do not apply to the renewal of a license of an

7-5   instructor for a school for training drivers before October 1, 2001.

 

7-6  H