PRINTER'S NO. 1313
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1244
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY QUINN, BURGOS, HILL-EVANS, ZIMMERMAN,
R. MACKENZIE, KEEFER AND ROWE, APRIL 20, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, APRIL 20, 2021
AN ACT
Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in licensing of drivers, providing for private
driver education and training schools; and making a related
repeal.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 1508.2. Private driver education and training schools.
(a) General rule.--The department shall establish:
(1) A program to license or permit private driver
education schools and driver education instructors.
(2) The minimum standards for a driver education
curriculum.
(b) Applicability.--Unless the person has been licensed or
permitted by the department in accordance with subsection (a),
no person shall operate as a:
(1) Private driver education school.
(2) Driver education instructor.
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(c) Driver education curriculum and testing.--The department
shall develop the driver education curriculum and standards for
testing of driver education instructors, which may include, but
shall not be limited to, provision for the following:
(1) An abbreviated license process for applicants who
previously have been licensed under the act of January 18,
1952 (1951 P.L.2128, No.605), referred to as the Private
Driver Education or Training School Act.
(2) An abbreviated license process for licensure as a
private driver education school or as a driver education
instructor for applicants that have been authorized to
administer third-party drivers' licensing exams, as permitted
by section 1508.1 (relating to physical examinations).
(3) Multiple driver education instructor testing
locations that strategically include all regions of this
Commonwealth. At no point shall there be only one driver
education instructor testing location within this
Commonwealth.
(4) The development of an electronic version of the
examination required for licensure as a driver education
instructor.
(5) Prohibiting a driver education instructor from
administering a third-party drivers' licensing exam, as
permitted by section 1508.1, and the driver education
curriculum to the same prospective licensed driver.
(6) Requiring an applicant for licensure as a driver
education instructor to complete a private driver education
school's training program before obtaining a department-
issued license.
(7) Requiring a driver education instructor to pass a
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physical driving examination to obtain a department-issued
license when the individual has an excess number of points
under section 1535 (relating to schedule of convictions and
points).
(d) Penalty.--Any person violating subsection (b) commits a
summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay
a fine of $500.
(e) Applicability.--This section shall not apply to:
(1) colleges or universities;
(2) schools maintained or classes conducted by employers
for their own employees where no fee or tuition is charged;
(3) schools or classes owned and operated by or under
the authority of bona fide religious institutions or by the
Commonwealth or a political subdivision of the Commonwealth;
(4) schools accredited by accrediting associations
approved by the Department of Education; or
(5) schools licensed by the State Board of Private
Academic Schools.
(f) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department-issued license." A verifiable document issued to
a private driver education school or driver education instructor
stating the department has certified the eligibility of the
private driver education school or driver education instructor
to administer the driver education curriculum to a prospective
licensed driver.
"Driver education curriculum." A practical or theoretical
experience needed to teach the knowledge how to operate a motor
vehicle on a roadway requiring the motorist to navigate through
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traffic or a trafficway.
"Driver education instructor." A person employed by or
volunteering for a private driver education school and is tasked
with teaching a prospective licensed driver how to lawfully,
safely and properly operate a motor vehicle.
"Private driver education school." A person that administers
schooling or training on how to operate a motor vehicle to a
prospective licensed driver by the Commonwealth for profit.
"Prospective licensed driver." An individual who employs the
services of a private driver education school for the purposes
of learning to operate a motor vehicle.
Section 2. Repeals are as follows:
(1) The General Assembly declares that the repeal under
paragraph (2) is necessary to effectuate the addition of 75
Pa.C.S. ยง 1508.2.
(2) The act of January 18, 1952 (1951 P.L.2128, No.605),
referred to as the Private Driver Education or Training
School Act, is repealed.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 180 days.
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