April 21, 2010, Introduced by Reps. Rick Jones, Polidori, Espinoza, Gonzales and Green and referred to the Committee on Transportation.
A bill to amend 2006 PA 384, entitled
"Driver education provider and instructor act,"
by amending section 37 (MCL 256.657).
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
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) 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 may 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) The segment 1 curriculum shall include instruction on the
dangers of sending and receiving text messages with a cellular
telephone or other wireless electronic communication device while
driving.
(5) (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.