Senate Bill S7026

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7026

SPONSOR: COONEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to eligibility
for participation in the pre-licensing course internet pilot program

 
PURPOSE:

To remove bathers to online instruction for the five-hour pre-licensing
course.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one of this bill removes a prohibition on drivers holding class
DJ and MJ Licenses from participating in online pre-licensing courses.

Section two provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:
              

Today more and more classes are moving to online based instruction
whether due to convenience of this option or the more recent shift due
to the ongoing pandemic. There is currently a prohibition on 16 and 17
year-old students participating in the required five-hour pre-licensing
class in the online format. This legislation removes that prohibition so
that students have the freedom and flexibility to choose between an
online provider or a traditional classroom provider. Many students will
likely remain using classroom providers, but the option should be avail-
able, nonetheless. More than 20 states allow online delivery of drivers'
education, including instruction for younger drivers. Online instruction
allows students to take the class at flexible times throughout the day
to help balance school and work scheduling. Classroom providers are also
limited in the amount of languages they can provide instruction in, a
barrier that is removed with online instruction. Providing online class-
es that can be tailored to many different languages' students may speak
or be more comfortable receiving instruction allows for greater compli-
ance with the ADA. Education starts with effective engagement. DMV
studies overwhelmingly support the fact that online is a more effective
way to engage, and thus educate, younger generations. This is how many
people, particularly young people, learn best and how they prefer to
engage. The majority of the applicants taking the pre-licensing course
are 16 and 17 -year old - they are the category of applicants most well
suited to taking an on-line course - thus removing the prohibition
against 16 and 17-year olds from participating in the required 5 hour
course is a logical step.  Additionally, DMV's ability to monitor the
activity of on-line providers and course participants is far superior to
its monitoring of traditional classroom providers. On-line programs also
offer the ability for the DMV to reduce fraud and enhance the security
of course participants' personal data. Originally enacted in 2019 the
online classes have been well received; this legislation simply extends
the option to an additional class of drivers.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2023-24: S9502

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal impacts to the State.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Effective immediately.