PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1278 PRINTER'S NO. 2422
No. 1106 Session of 1985
INTRODUCED BY GRUPPO, STAIRS, SEMMEL, FISCHER, BURNS, GALLAGHER
AND FREEMAN, APRIL 30, 1985
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, NOVEMBER 12, 1985
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2 act relating to the public school system, including certain
3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5 laws relating thereto," mandating that all school districts
6 provide instruction for the safe driving of motor vehicles;
7 FURTHER PROVIDING FOR PAYMENTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR DRIVER <--
8 EDUCATION; and making editorial changes.
9 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10 hereby enacts as follows:
11 Section 1. Section 1519 of the act of March 10, 1949
12 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
13 amended October 21, 1965 (P.L.601, No.312) and January 26, 1966
14 (1965 P.L.1620, No.574), is amended to read:
15 Section 1519. Teaching of Safe Driving of Motor Vehicles.--
16 (a) [Any] Every school district [may] shall provide for the
17 teaching of safe driving of motor vehicles in the elementary and
18 secondary schools of the district or in the secondary schools
19 only, in accordance with the standardized program established by
20 the Department of [Public Instruction] Education. In the case of
1 pupils under the age of sixteen (16) years, such instruction
2 shall be limited to class room instruction by those who shall
3 possess the qualifications prescribed by the State Board of
4 Education. In the case of pupils of the age of sixteen (16)
5 years and over, the instruction may include practical
6 instruction in the operation of motor vehicles on the public
7 highways, or other places, selected by the board of school
8 directors or by the principal of the school where the
9 instruction is given.
10 (b) The board of school directors [may] shall employ and fix
11 the compensation of qualified persons to teach the practical
12 operation of motor vehicles on the highways, or elsewhere, who
13 shall possess the qualifications prescribed by the State Board
14 of Education. Teacher aides may be used in the practice driving
15 phase of the standardized program in the public schools of the
16 Commonwealth. The [Superintendent of Public Instruction]
17 Secretary of Education shall, upon the request of the local
18 chief school administrator for employment of a teacher aide,
19 provide for an oral examination, a written theoretical
20 examination and a practical examination. In addition, the
21 applicant shall possess the following qualifications: (1)
22 satisfactory completion of the examination provided by the
23 [Superintendent of Public Instruction] Secretary of Education,
24 (2) possess a high school diploma, (3) have a motor vehicle
25 operator's record free of violation of "The Vehicle Code" and
26 other traffic laws and free of accidents, (4) completed a three-
27 credit course in driver education, (5) shall complete an
28 additional nine hours of credit in General and Traffic Safety
29 Education within a three year period of employment, and (6)
30 shall be eligible according to the provisions in section 1209 of
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1 the "Public School Code of 1949." The board of school directors
2 [may] shall purchase, rent [or], hire or otherwise provide motor
3 vehicles for such instruction only and shall procure or require
4 automobile liability insurance in such amounts as the board of
5 school directors shall prescribe covering vehicles owned or
6 operated pursuant to this section. Such insurance shall be for
7 the public liability of the owner of the vehicle, when the owner
8 is some one other than the school district, the employe of the
9 school district, the employe of the owner and the pupil
10 operating the vehicle, against claims for damages, for injuries
11 to person or property. No liability shall attach to any
12 individual, school director, superintendent, teacher or other
13 school authority by reason of teaching safe driving, except that
14 which is protected by the automobile liability insurance
15 policies which are procured by reason of the authority granted
16 herein.
17 (c) The board of school directors [may] shall appropriate
18 and expend money of the school district for the purpose of
19 paying the compensation of the instructors and to purchase, rent
20 [or], hire or otherwise provide motor vehicles, automobile
21 liability insurance and to maintain and repair the same and to
22 purchase fuel, lubricants, parts and accessories therefor.
23 SECTION 2. SECTION 2504.1 OF THE ACT, AMENDED JANUARY 24, <--
24 1966 (1965 P.L.1506, NO.528), IS AMENDED TO READ:
25 SECTION 2504.1. PAYMENTS ON ACCOUNT OF STANDARDIZED DRIVER-
26 EDUCATION PROGRAMS.--EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT OR JOINT SCHOOL
27 ORGANIZATION COMPLYING WITH THE STANDARDIZED DRIVER-EDUCATION
28 PROGRAM ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE PAID, BY THE
29 COMMONWEALTH FROM THE MOTOR LICENSE FUND, AN AMOUNT TO BE
30 DETERMINED BY MULTIPLYING THE NUMBER OF PUPILS WHO HAVE
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1 COMPLETED THE HIGH SCHOOL STANDARDIZED DRIVER-EDUCATION PROGRAM
2 CONDUCTED BY ANY GIVEN SCHOOL DISTRICT OR JOINT SCHOOL
3 ORGANIZATION BY A BASIC FIGURE OF [THIRTY-FIVE ($35) DOLLARS PER
4 STUDENT] ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100) PER STUDENT, OR THE ACTUAL
5 COST OF INSTRUCTION, WHICHEVER IS LESS.
6 Section 2 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 1985 1986. <--
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