2023 -- H 5766

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LC002015

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

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

LICENSES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Fogarty, Shallcross Smith, Tanzi, Hull, J. Lombardi,
Carson, Cotter, Spears, and McEntee

     Date Introduced: February 21, 2023

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Legislative findings.

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     (1) The Rhode Island department of education has temporarily authorized driver education

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schools to deliver the thirty-three (33) hour community college of Rhode Island approved driver

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training curriculum in an instructor-led virtual format since April, 2020.

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     (2) The virtual platform used to present the curriculum allows the instructor to see the

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students on-screen and monitor student engagement by providing spot quizzes, interactive question

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and answer sessions, class polling and a final exam.

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     (3) Scores for exams taken in a classroom setting (pre-pandemic) and those taken virtually

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are comparable (90.94 on average for in-person vs. 89.58 on average for virtual).

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     (4) Virtual instruction can provide workable alternatives to students with physical,

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emotional, or other learning challenges.

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     (5) A virtual instruction option promotes greater accessibility to the curriculum advancing

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equity and inclusion.

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     (6) A virtual option can be particularly important in rural areas or Rhode Island

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communities where no classroom instruction is available.

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     SECTION 2. Section 31-10-20 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-10 entitled "Operators’

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and Chauffeurs’ Licenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     31-10-20. Driver education course requirement before licensing.

 

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     (a) No limited-instruction permit or license shall be issued to any person not more than

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eighteen (18) years of age unless that person shall have successfully completed a course of

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instruction as provided in § 31-10-19, or a similar course of instruction, conducted in a classroom

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setting or in an instructor-led virtual format, recognized by the state board of education as

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equivalent to it. However, any person who is over eighteen (18) years of age and has been a holder

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of a motor vehicle operator’s license issued to that person by any other state, territory, or possession

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of the United States, or any other sovereignty for a period of one year immediately prior to his or

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her application for a license under this chapter shall not be required to comply with the provisions

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of this section.

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     (b) Commencing on July 1, 2004, no limited-instruction permit or license shall be issued

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to any person not more than eighteen (18) years of age unless that person shall have successfully

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completed a course of instruction as provided in § 31-10-19, or a similar course of instruction in

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another state recognized by the state board of education as equivalent to it. In determining whether

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a course is equivalent, the state board of education shall at a minimum require: (1) That the course

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consist of at least thirty-three (33) instructional hours that substantially conform with the current

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curriculum utilized by the instructor(s) at the Community College of Rhode Island, including a

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minimum of three (3) hours of instruction focusing upon specific Rhode Island traffic laws, the

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specific requirements of the Rhode Island graduated-licensing statute in § 31-10-6, and eight (8)

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hours specifically for instruction on the effects of alcohol and drugs on a driver. All driver’s

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education programs shall include information concerning the Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift

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Act, chapter 18.6.1 of title 23, and information on donor cards pursuant to the applicable provisions

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of chapter 18.6.1 of title 23; (2) That the instructor holds a valid teacher’s certificate; (3) That the

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instructor satisfactorily completes at least a three-credit (3) course in traffic safety education at an

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accredited institution of higher education; and (4) That the program does not offer outside the

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classroom road test instruction or driving lessons to Rhode Island students. However, any person

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who is over eighteen (18) years of age and has been a holder of a motor vehicle operator’s license

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issued to that person by any other state, territory, or possession of the United States, or any other

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sovereignty for a period of one year immediately prior to his or her application for a license under

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this chapter shall not be required to comply with the provisions of this section.

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     (c) The driver’s education course and driver’s license examination shall include material

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pertaining to a driver’s rights and responsibilities when stopped by a law enforcement officer as

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explained during the driver education course, including, but not limited to, rights provided to

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drivers pursuant to chapter 21.2 of title 31, the “comprehensive community-police relationship act

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of 2015.”

 

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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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 authorize driver education schools to offer the driver training curriculum in

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a classroom setting or an instructor-led virtual format.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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