February 6, 2018, Introduced by Senators GREGORY, KNOLLENBERG, O'BRIEN, NOFS, HANSEN, BIEDA, HILDENBRAND and CONYERS and referred to the Committee on Transportation.
A bill to amend 2006 PA 384, entitled
"Driver education provider and instructor act,"
by amending sections 35 and 37 (MCL 256.655 and 256.657), section
35 as amended by 2012 PA 258 and section 37 as amended by 2014 PA
317.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 35. (1) The secretary of state shall prescribe a model
curriculum for teen driver training under this act. After September
1, 2007, a driver education provider classified for teen driver
training shall use the secretary of state's prescribed model
curriculum or may use an alternative curriculum only after it has
been reviewed and approved by the secretary of state. The secretary
of state may approve an alternative curriculum if it substantially
meets or exceeds the standards of the secretary of state's
prescribed model curriculum.
(2) Under a segment 1 curriculum and segment 2 curriculum
combined, each student shall receive no less than 30 hours of
classroom instruction and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel driver
education course experience.
(3) In addition to the model curriculum described in
subsection (1), the secretary of state shall, in cooperation with
the department of state police, also develop a program to educate
students concerning the appropriate etiquette for interaction with
law enforcement in the event of a traffic stop as described in
section 37(1)(a)(v). No later than January 1, 2019, the secretary
of state shall present the program required by this subsection to
the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives
that are responsible for general government. The secretary of state
shall also provide the program required by this subsection to the
department of education.
Sec. 37. (1) A segment 1 curriculum shall include both
classroom and behind-the-wheel driver education course experience.
The classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel instruction shall be
integrated, relate to each other, and meet the following
requirements:
(a) Each student shall receive not less than 24 hours of
classroom instruction. Classroom instruction shall be scheduled to
occur as follows:
(i) Classroom instruction shall occur not more than 2 hours
per day.
(ii) Classroom instruction shall occur over the course of 3 or
more weeks.
(iii) Classroom instruction of 4 or more hours shall be
received before the student begins to receive behind-the-wheel
instruction.
(iv) Classroom instruction shall include information
concerning the laws pertaining to bicycles and motorcycles and
shall emphasize awareness of their operation on the streets, roads,
and highways of this state.
(v) Classroom instruction shall include information concerning
the appropriate etiquette for interaction with law enforcement in
the event of a traffic stop, including, but not limited to, all of
the following:
(A) Where to pull over in the event of a traffic stop.
(B) What to expect when a law enforcement officer begins a
traffic stop.
(C) When to safely hand information requested by a law
enforcement officer to the officer.
(D) Where a driver should keep his or her hands during a
traffic stop, and where to remain during a traffic stop.
(E) How to properly illuminate the interior of a vehicle
during a nighttime traffic stop.
(F) When to inform a law enforcement officer that a weapon is
inside a vehicle.
(G) How to contact a law enforcement officer's supervisor to
submit a complaint.
(vi) (v) Behind-the-wheel
instruction of 3 or more hours shall
be completed before classroom instruction terminates.
(b) Each student shall receive not less than 6 hours of
behind-the-wheel instruction or substitute hours permitted under
this subsection. Behind-the-wheel instruction shall be scheduled to
occur as follows:
(i) A student shall receive not more than 1 hour of behind-
the-wheel instruction per day.
(ii) Not more than 1 student shall occupy the front seat of
the vehicle with the instructor.
(iii) A driver education motor vehicle shall contain not more
than 4 students during behind-the-wheel instruction.
(iv) Not later than 3 weeks after the last classroom
instruction has been completed, a student shall complete any
remaining required behind-the-wheel instruction.
(v) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a student
may receive instruction while operating a motor vehicle at a
multiple vehicle driving facility. One hour of instruction received
at a multiple vehicle driving facility may substitute as credit for
1 hour of behind-the-wheel experience. A maximum of 2 hours of
behind-the-wheel experience can be substituted with instruction
received at a multiple vehicle driving facility.
(c) A student shall receive 4 or more hours of behind-the-
wheel observation time.
(2) A driver education provider classified for teen driver
training shall not substitute behind-the-wheel instruction with
multiple vehicle driving facility experience until the secretary of
state gives the provider written approval for that substitution as
provided in this act.
(3) A driver education provider classified for teen driver
training shall not substitute behind-the-wheel driving experience
with simulator device training.
(4) As used in this section:
(a) "Integrated" means classroom and behind-the-wheel
instruction scheduled to include a mix of classroom and behind-the-
wheel instruction throughout the duration of the driver education
course, except as otherwise provided in this section.
(b) "Observation time" means the time a student in a driver
education course sits in the rear seat of a vehicle and observes
another student in the front seat behind the wheel operating the
controls of the vehicle, responding to driving situations, and with
an instructor sitting in the front seat.
(5) This section shall be known and may be cited as the
"Nathan Bower act".
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days
after the date it is enacted into law.
Enacting section 2. This amendatory act does not take effect
unless Senate Bill No. 807
of the 99th Legislature is enacted into law.