H 3310 Session 109 (1991-1992)
H 3310 General Bill, By J. Rama
A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
56-1-55 so as to require applicants for a driver's license to complete a
course on safe driving and alcohol and drug education; and to amend the 1976
Code by adding Section 59-29-51 so as to require as a part of high school
curriculum a course in motor vehicle operation and highway safety.
01/24/91 House Introduced and read first time HJ-7
01/24/91 House Referred to Committee on Education and Public
Works HJ-7
03/04/92 House Committee report: Recommended refer to different
committee Education and Public Works HJ-14
03/04/92 House Referred to Committee on Ways and Means HJ-15
A BILL
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
BY ADDING SECTION 56-1-55 SO AS TO REQUIRE APPLICANTS
FOR A DRIVER'S LICENSE TO COMPLETE A COURSE ON SAFE
DRIVING AND ALCOHOL AND DRUG EDUCATION; AND TO
AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-51 SO AS
TO REQUIRE AS A PART OF HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM A
COURSE IN MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION AND HIGHWAY
SAFETY.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 56-1-55. (A) No driver's license may be issued
to a person under eighteen years of age unless the applicant presents to
the department a certificate of the successful completion:
(1) of a full course of study in motor vehicle operation in a
public secondary school, a state vocational school, or a private
secondary school as provided in Section 59-29-51 or of training of
similar nature provided by a licensed driver training school approved by
the department, including, in each case, successful completion of not
less than six hours of behind-the-wheel, on-the-road instruction;
(2) of a course of not less than five hours relating to safe
driving practices, including a minimum of two hours on the nature and
the medical, biological, and physiological effects of alcohol and drugs
and their impact on the operation of a motor vehicle, the dangers
associated with the operation of a motor vehicle after the consumption
of alcohol or drugs by the operator, the problems of alcohol and drug
abuse, and the penalties for alcohol and drug related motor vehicle
violations; and
(3) passes an examination as prescribed by the department.
(B) The department shall approve the content of the safe driving
instruction at licensed driver training schools and the State
Superintendent of Education shall approve the content of the instruction
at high schools and other secondary schools. Five hours of instruction
must be included as part of or in addition to any existing instruction
programs. The fee charged for the course must not exceed twenty-five
dollars.
(C) The department may accept as evidence of sufficient training
a certificate signed by the spouse of a married minor applicant, or by a
parent, grandparent, foster parent, or the legal guardian of an applicant
which states that the applicant has successfully completed a driving
course taught by the person signing the certificate and that the signer has
had a driver's license for at least four years preceding the date of the
certificate. If the applicant has no spouse, parent, grandparent, foster
parent, or guardian qualified and available to give the instruction, a
certificate signed by the applicant's stepparent, brother, sister, uncle, or
aunt, by blood or marriage, may be accepted by the department provided
the person signing the certificate is qualified. The department shall
provide forms for the certificates, which are called home training
certificates. Each certificate must be on file with the department for
thirty days before the applicant may take the examination.
(D) The department may adopt regulations to implement the
purposes of this section concerning the content of safe driving
instruction at driver's schools."
SECTION 2. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-29-51. (A) The State Board of Education shall
prepare for use in all high schools and other secondary schools under its
supervision a course of study of motor vehicle operation and highway
safety.
(B) Each local and regional board of education may provide a
course of instruction in motor vehicle operation and highway safety on
a secondary school level. The course shall consist of not less than thirty
hours of classroom instruction offered during or after school hours. The
board, in its discretion, may provide or include behind-the-wheel
instruction of not less than six hours. The course must be open to
enrollment by any person between the ages of fifteen and eighteen,
inclusive, who is a resident of the town or school district or whose
parent, parents, or legal guardian owns property taxable in that town or
school district. The board may contract for behind-the-wheel instruction
with a licensed driver training school.
(C) The board may adopt regulations, in accordance with the
provisions of Chapter 5 of this title, to implement the purposes of this
section concerning the content of safe driving instruction in high schools
and other secondary schools."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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