GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1440

Short Title:  Driver/Safety Ed. Program Funds.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representative Mosley.

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Referred to:  Education, if favorable, Appropriations.

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April 29, 1999

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ENHANCE AND STRENGTHEN NORTH CAROLINA'S DRIVER AND SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM AND TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THIS PURPOSE.
Whereas, the State of North Carolina led the country in the number of teenage fatalities in 1998 and ranks in the top 10 states for preventable traffic-related injury; and
Whereas, the State of North Carolina has implemented the strongest graduated drivers license program in the country; and
Whereas, young drivers require additional instruction, monitoring, and support to ensure the reduction of preventable death and serious injury; and
Whereas, the administrative responsibilities for the North Carolina driver and safety education program is split between the Division of Motor Vehicles, which oversees the professional driving schools, and the State Board of Education which transmits the funds from the Highway Fund to the local school districts, with no one agency overseeing the curriculum, driver instructor qualifications, and ensuring that all of the qualified young drivers receive the training in a timely fashion; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The North Carolina State Board of Education shall:
(1)	Develop and implement an update driver education curriculum that would address the major causes of preventable death and serious injury to young drivers.
(2)	Provide for driver education instruction at all reasonable times, including during the school day.
(3)	Provide clear and consistent oversight of the State's driver education program through additional monitoring, assistance to school districts, supervision of existing funds, and enhancing the quality of driver education instruction.
(4)	Issue and enforce all rules concerning the implementation of driver education, including the development of policies for instructor/teacher certification and other policies.
Section 2.  There is appropriated from driver education reversions to the Highway Fund the sum of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for the 1999-2000 fiscal year to the Department of Public Instruction to implement the provisions of Section 1 of this act.
Section 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1999.