GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

S	1 

SENATE BILL 865*

Short Title:  Motorcycle Safety Program.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senators Taft and Martin of Pitt.
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Referred to:  Transportation.
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April 12, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH AND FUND A PROGRAM OF MOTORCYCLE SAFETY INSTRUCTION AND TO PROVIDE FOR A TEN PERCENT LIABILITY PREMIUM INSURANCE DISCOUNT FOR CERTIFIED GRADUATES OF THE PROGRAM.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Chapter 115D of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:
“ARTICLE 6A.
"Motorcycle Safety Instruction.
"§ 115D-72. Motorcycle Safety Instruction Program.
(a)	There is created a Motorcycle Safety Instruction Program for the purpose of establishing statewide motorcycle safety instruction to be delivered through the Department of Community Colleges. The Program may be administered by a motorcycle safety coordinator who shall be responsible for the planning, curriculum, and completion requirements of the Program. The State Board of Community Colleges may elect a motorcycle safety coordinator upon nomination of the President of the Community College System, and the compensation of the motorcycle safety coordinator shall be fixed by the State Board upon recommendation of the President of the Community College System pursuant to G.S. 115D-3; provided, however, that the motorcycle safety coordinator shall be paid, and the operations of the office of the motorcycle safety coordinator shall be funded only from the Motorcycle Safety Instruction Fund created by G.S. 20-88.2. Provided, further, that the State Board of Community Colleges may contract with an appropriate public or private agency or person to carry out the duties of the motorcycle safety coordinator. The funds to cover the cost of the contract shall come from the Motorcycle Safety Instruction Fund.
(b)	The Motorcycle Safety Instruction Program shall be implemented through the Department of Community Colleges at institutions which choose to provide the Program. The motorcycle safety coordinator shall select and facilitate the training and certification of instructors who will implement the Program."
Sec. 2. G.S. 20-87(6) reads as rewritten:
"(6)	Private Motorcycles.– The tax on private passenger motorcycles shall be twelve dollars ($12.00); except that when a motorcycle is equipped with an additional form of device designed to transport persons or property, the tax shall be nineteen dollars ($19.00)."
Sec. 3. Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 20-88.2. Motorcycle Safety Instruction Fund.
There is created a Motorcycle Safety Instruction Fund to be administered by the Department of Motor Vehicles to finance the Motorcycle Safety Instruction Program established pursuant to G.S. 115D-72. Beginning July 1, 1989, for each private motorcycle registered in this State, three dollars ($3.00) of the registration fee collected by the Division pursuant to G.S. 20-87(6) shall be placed in a special account for the Motorcycle Safety Instruction Program. The Division shall transfer each month the portion of the motorcycle registration fee placed in that special account to the Department of Community Colleges."
Sec. 4. G.S. 58-124.31 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"( m)	The classification plan shall provide that the premium rates for motorcycle liability insurance issued to qualified licensed motorcycle operators who provide proof of successful completion of a motorcycle safety instruction program implemented pursuant to G.S. 115D-72 shall be reduced by ten percent (10 %)."
Sec. 5. The North Carolina Rate Bureau shall file in accordance with G.S. 58-124.31 a revised classification plan to reflect the provisions of this act. The Bureau shall make a filing no later than September 1, 1989, and the plan shall become effective three months after the date the Commissioner approves the plan.
Sec. 6. Any adjustments in rates for nonfleet passenger motor vehicle insurance to offset any reduction in premium level due to the implementation of the provisions of this act shall be made through adjustments to the base rates for the affected coverages. The adjustments shall be filed by the Rate Bureau with the Commissioner in accordance with the standards and procedures of Articles 12B and 25A of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes.
Sec. 7. This act shall become effective July 1, 1989.