THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY RAFFERTY, BAKER, FOLMER, FARNESE, PILEGGI, WAUGH, MENSCH, EARLL, BROWNE, YAW, M. WHITE, GREENLEAF AND WOZNIAK, MARCH 4, 2011

REFERRED TO EDUCATION, MARCH 4, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An

act relating to the public school system, including certain

provisions applicable as well to private and parochial

schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the

laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study,

further providing for teaching safe driving of motor

vehicles.

The General Assembly finds and declares that:

(1)  Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of

teen fatalities in this Commonwealth.

(2)  In 2008, 154 teens between 15 and 19 years of age

were killed in motor vehicle accidents in this Commonwealth.

(3)  Teen driver education introduces new teen drivers to

the hazards of driving and helps to reduce the risk of motor

vehicle accidents involving teens.

(4)  There is a shortage of professional educators

certified by the Department of Education to teach driver

education.

(5)  Due to extreme financial strain or the lack of

professional educators certified by the Department of

Education to teach driver education, many school districts in

this Commonwealth no longer provide theoretical driver

education in the classroom.

(6)  In the absence of a professional educator certified

by the Department of Education to teach driver education who

is available and willing to teach in the school district, a

school district should be permitted to contract with a

private driver training instructor or private driver training

school to teach theoretical driver education in the

classroom.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 1519 of the act of March 10, 1949

(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is

amended by adding a subsection to read:

Section 1519.  Teaching of Safe Driving of Motor Vehicles.--

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(b.1)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or

any other law, except for subsection (b)(6) and section 111, a

person who possesses the qualifications of a teacher or a

director under section 4(2) of the act of January 18, 1952 (1951

P.L.2128, No.605), referred to as the Private Driver Education

or Training School Act, shall not be required to meet the

certification requirements under Article XII in order to be

permitted to provide classroom instruction under this section.

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.