2022 -- H 7583

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LC004574

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- OPERATORS' AND CHAUFFEURS'

LICENSES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Fogarty, Handy, Cortvriend, Knight, Shallcross Smith,
Carson, Speakman, Donovan, Craven, and McEntee

     Date Introduced: February 18, 2022

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 31-10 of the General Laws entitled "Operators' and Chauffeurs'

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Licenses" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     31-10-20.1. Online driver education program pilot.

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     (a) Effective October 1, 2022, current approved providers of classroom driver education

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programs may offer the thirty-three (33) hour driver education program in an online and virtual

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format. Successful completion of the online program shall fulfill the requirements set forth in §§

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31-10-19 and 31-10-20.

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     (b) The online and virtual format driver education program will be evaluated by the online

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driver education program study commission, whereupon a determination will be made whether to

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make the pilot program permanent. The commission’s findings and recommendations will be

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reported to the state board of education no later than December 31, 2023. The online driver

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education program study commission shall consist of the following five (5) members: one

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representative of AAA-Northeast; one staff member of the community college of Rhode Island’s

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driver education program; the director of the Rhode Island division of motor vehicles, or designee;

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one certified driver education teacher appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

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the director of the Rhode Island office of highway safety, or designee.

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     (c) This section shall sunset on October 1, 2024.

 

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage and shall sunset on October 1, 2024.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- OPERATORS' AND CHAUFFEURS'

LICENSES

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     This act would create a pilot program for the thirty-three (33) hour driver education

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program to be offered in an online and virtual format, effective October 1, 2022 and would sunset

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on October 1, 2024. Additionally, this act would create the online driver education program study

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commission to determine by December 31, 2023 if the pilot program should be permanent.

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     This act would take effect upon passage and would sunset on October 1, 2024.

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