Connecticut 2023 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06656 Compare Versions

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Version 2 (New)

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7		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 6656
	5	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6656
8	6		January Session, 2023
	7	+	LCO No. 3978
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	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on TRANSPORTATION
	11	+
	12	+
	13	+	Introduced by:
	14	+	(TRA)
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13		-
14		-	AN ACT CONCERNING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE KNOWLEDGE
15		-	TEST AND ON-THE-ROAD SKILLS TEST FOR AN OPERATOR'S
16		-	LICENSE AND THE RECIPROCAL RECOGNITION OF DRIVER
17		-	TRAINING REQUIREMENTS.
	19	+	AN ACT CONCERNING A MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATOR'S LICENSE.
18	20		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
19	21		Assembly convened:
20	22
21		-	Section 1. Subsections (d) and (e) of section 14-36 of the general 1
22		-	statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 2
23		-	(Effective October 1, 2023): 3
24		-	(d) (1) No motor vehicle operator's license shall be issued to any 4
25		-	applicant who is sixteen or seventeen years of age unless the applicant 5
26		-	has held a youth instruction permit and has satisfied the requirements 6
27		-	specified in this subsection. The applicant shall (A) submit to the 7
28		-	commissioner, in such manner as the commissioner shall direct, a 8
29		-	certificate of the successful completion (i) in a public secondary school, 9
30		-	a technical education and career school or a private secondary school 10
31		-	of a full course of study in motor vehicle operation prepared as 11
32		-	provided in section 14-36e, (ii) of training of similar nature provided 12
33		-	by a licensed drivers' school approved by the commissioner, or (iii) of 13
34		-	home training in accordance with subdivision (2) of this subsection, 14
35		-	including, in each case, or by a combination of such types of training, 15
36		-	successful completion of: Not less than forty clock hours of behind-the-16
37		-	wheel, on-the-road instruction for applicants to whom a youth 17 Substitute Bill No. 6656
	23	+	Section 1. Subdivision (3) of subsection (e) of section 14-36 of the 1
	24	+	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2
	25	+	thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 3
	26	+	(3) Before granting a license to any applicant who has not previously 4
	27	+	held a Connecticut motor vehicle operator's license, or whose 5
	28	+	Connecticut motor vehicle operator's license expired more than two 6
	29	+	years prior to the application date, the commissioner shall require the 7
	30	+	applicant to demonstrate personally to the commissioner, a deputy, a 8
	31	+	motor vehicle inspector or an agent of the commissioner, in such manner 9
	32	+	as the commissioner directs, that the applicant is a proper person to 10
	33	+	operate motor vehicles of the class for which such applicant has applied, 11
	34	+	has sufficient knowledge of the mechanism of the motor vehicles to 12
	35	+	ensure their safe operation by him or her and has satisfactory 13
	36	+	knowledge of the laws concerning motor vehicles and the rules of the 14
	37	+	road. The knowledge test of an applicant for a class D motor vehicle 15
	38	+	operator's license may be administered in such form as the 16 Raised Bill No. 6656
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44		-	instruction permit is issued on or after August 1, 2008; (B) submit to 18
45		-	the commissioner, in such manner as the commissioner shall direct, a 19
46		-	certificate of the successful completion of a course of not less than eight 20
47		-	hours relative to safe driving practices, including a minimum of four 21
48		-	hours on the nature and the medical, biological and physiological 22
49		-	effects of alcohol and drugs and their impact on the operator of a 23
50		-	motor vehicle, the dangers associated with the operation of a motor 24
51		-	vehicle after the consumption of alcohol or drugs by the operator, the 25
52		-	problems of alcohol and drug abuse and the penalties for alcohol and 26
53		-	drug-related motor vehicle violations; and (C) pass an examination 27
54		-	which may include a comprehensive test as to knowledge of the laws 28
55		-	concerning motor vehicles and the rules of the road in addition to the 29
56		-	test required under subsection (c) of this section and shall include an 30
57		-	on-the-road skills test as prescribed by the commissioner. At the time 31
58		-	of application and examination for a motor vehicle operator's license, 32
59		-	an applicant sixteen or seventeen years of age shall have held a youth 33
60		-	instruction permit for not less than one hundred eighty days, except 34
61		-	that an applicant who presents a certificate under subparagraph (A)(i) 35
62		-	or subparagraph (A)(ii) of this subdivision shall have held a youth 36
63		-	instruction permit for not less than one hundred twenty days and an 37
64		-	applicant who is undergoing training and instruction by the driver 38
65		-	training unit for persons with disabilities in accordance with the 39
66		-	provisions of section 14-11b shall have held such permit for the period 40
67		-	of time required by said unit. The commissioner shall approve the 41
68		-	content of the safe driving instruction at drivers' schools, high schools 42
69		-	and other secondary schools. Subject to such standards and 43
70		-	requirements as the commissioner may impose, the commissioner may 44
71		-	authorize any drivers' school, licensed in good standing in accordance 45
72		-	with the provisions of section 14-69, or secondary school driver 46
73		-	education program authorized pursuant to the provisions of section 47
74		-	14-36e, to administer the comprehensive test as to knowledge of the 48
75		-	laws concerning motor vehicles and the rules of the road, required 49
76		-	pursuant to subparagraph (C) of this subdivision, as part of the safe 50
77		-	driving practices course required pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this 51
78		-	subdivision, and to certify to the commissioner, under oath, the results 52 Substitute Bill No. 6656
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	44	+	commissioner deems appropriate, including audio, electronic or written 17
	45	+	testing. Such knowledge test shall be administered in English, Spanish 18
	46	+	or any other language [spoken at home by at least one per cent of the 19
	47	+	state's population, according to statistics prepared by the United States 20
	48	+	Census Bureau, based on the most recent decennial census] as requested 21
	49	+	by the applicant. Each such knowledge test shall include a question 22
	50	+	concerning highway work zone safety and the responsibilities of an 23
	51	+	operator of a motor vehicle under section 14-212d. Each such knowledge 24
	52	+	test shall include not less than one question concerning distracted 25
	53	+	driving, the use of mobile telephones and electronic devices by motor 26
	54	+	vehicle operators or the responsibilities of motor vehicle operators 27
	55	+	under section 14-296aa. If any such applicant has held a license from a 28
	56	+	state, territory or possession of the United States where a similar 29
	57	+	examination is required, the commissioner may waive part or all of the 30
	58	+	examination. If any such applicant is (A) a veteran who applies not later 31
	59	+	than two years after the date of discharge from the military and who, 32
	60	+	prior to such discharge, held a military operator's license for motor 33
	61	+	vehicles of the same class as that for which such applicant has applied, 34
	62	+	or (B) a member of the armed forces or the National Guard who 35
	63	+	currently holds a military operator's license for motor vehicles of the 36
	64	+	same class as that for which such applicant has applied, the 37
	65	+	commissioner shall waive all of the examination, except in the case of a 38
	66	+	commercial motor vehicle license, the commissioner shall waive the 39
	67	+	driving skills test for such applicant and may, in such commissioner's 40
	68	+	discretion, waive the knowledge test for such application, provided 41
	69	+	such applicant meets the conditions set forth in 49 CFR 383.77, as 42
	70	+	amended from time to time. For the purposes of this subsection, 43
	71	+	"veteran" and "armed forces" have the same meanings as provided in 44
	72	+	section 27-103. When the commissioner is satisfied as to the ability and 45
	73	+	competency of any applicant, the commissioner may issue to such 46
	74	+	applicant a license, either unlimited or containing such limitations as the 47
	75	+	commissioner deems advisable, and specifying the class of motor 48
	76	+	vehicles which the licensee is eligible to operate. 49
	77	+	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than October 1, 2023, 50 Raised Bill No. 6656
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85		-	of each such test administered. Such hours of instruction required by 53
86		-	this subdivision shall be included as part of or in addition to any 54
87		-	existing instruction programs. Any fee charged for the course required 55
88		-	under subparagraph (B) of this subdivision shall not exceed one 56
89		-	hundred fifty dollars. Any applicant sixteen or seventeen years of age 57
90		-	who, while a resident of another state, completed the course required 58
91		-	in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, but did not complete the safe 59
92		-	driving course required in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, shall 60
93		-	complete the safe driving course. The commissioner may waive any 61
94		-	requirement in this subdivision, except for that in subparagraph (C) of 62
95		-	this subdivision, in the case of an applicant sixteen or seventeen years 63
96		-	of age who holds a valid motor vehicle operator's license issued by any 64
97		-	other state, provided the commissioner is satisfied that the applicant 65
98		-	has received training and instruction of a similar nature. 66
99		-	(2) The commissioner may accept as evidence of sufficient training 67
100		-	under subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of this subsection home 68
101		-	training as evidenced by a written statement submitted to the 69
102		-	commissioner, in such manner as the commissioner directs. Such 70
103		-	statement shall be signed by the spouse of a married minor applicant, 71
104		-	or by a parent, grandparent, foster parent or legal guardian of an 72
105		-	applicant, and state that the applicant has obtained a youth instruction 73
106		-	permit and has successfully completed a driving course taught by the 74
107		-	person signing the statement, that the signer has had an operator's 75
108		-	license for at least four years preceding the date of the statement, and 76
109		-	that the signer has not had such license suspended by the 77
110		-	commissioner for at least four years preceding the date of the 78
111		-	statement. If the applicant has no spouse, parent, grandparent, foster 79
112		-	parent or guardian so qualified and available to give the instruction, 80
113		-	such statement may be signed by the applicant's stepparent, brother, 81
114		-	sister, uncle or aunt, by blood or marriage, provided the person 82
115		-	signing the statement is qualified. 83
116		-	(3) [If the commissioner requires a written test of any applicant 84
117		-	under this section, the test shall be given in English or Spanish at the 85 Substitute Bill No. 6656
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124		-	option of the applicant] The knowledge test for a class D motor vehicle 86
125		-	operator's license required under this section may be administered in 87
126		-	such form as the commissioner deems appropriate, including audio, 88
127		-	electronic or written testing. Such knowledge test shall be 89
128		-	administered, at the option of the applicant, in English, Spanish and at 90
129		-	least thirty-four other languages as prescribed by the commissioner, 91
130		-	provided the commissioner shall require [that] the applicant [shall] to 92
131		-	have sufficient understanding of English for the interpretation of 93
132		-	traffic control signs. In determining the other languages for the 94
133		-	administration of such knowledge test, the commissioner shall consult 95
134		-	with representatives of organizations that advocate on behalf of or 96
135		-	assist immigrants, refugees or other persons who are English language 97
136		-	learners and shall be responsive to the linguistic needs of the emerging 98
137		-	immigrant and refugee populations in the state. 99
138		-	(4) The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the 100
139		-	provisions of chapter 54, to implement the purposes of this subsection 101
140		-	concerning the requirements for behind-the-wheel, on-the-road 102
141		-	instruction, the content of safe driving instruction at drivers' schools, 103
142		-	high schools and other secondary schools, and the administration and 104
143		-	certification of required testing. 105
144		-	(e) (1) No motor vehicle operator's license shall be issued until (A) 106
145		-	the applicant signs and submits to the commissioner, in such manner 107
146		-	as the commissioner directs, an application under oath, or made 108
147		-	subject to penalties for false statement in accordance with section 53a-109
148		-	157b, and (B) the commissioner is satisfied that the applicant is sixteen 110
149		-	years of age or older and is a suitable person to receive the license. 111
150		-	(2) Except any applicant described in section 14-36m, an applicant 112
151		-	for a new motor vehicle operator's license shall submit with the 113
152		-	application a copy of such applicant's birth certificate or other prima 114
153		-	facie evidence, as determined by the commissioner, of date of birth and 115
154		-	evidence of identity. 116
155		-	(3) Before granting a license to any applicant who has not 117 Substitute Bill No. 6656
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162		-	previously held a Connecticut motor vehicle operator's license, or 118
163		-	whose Connecticut motor vehicle operator's license expired more than 119
164		-	two years prior to the application date, the commissioner shall require 120
165		-	the applicant to demonstrate personally to the commissioner, a deputy, 121
166		-	a motor vehicle inspector or an agent of the commissioner, in such 122
167		-	manner as the commissioner directs, that the applicant is a proper 123
168		-	person to operate motor vehicles of the class for which such applicant 124
169		-	has applied, has sufficient knowledge of the mechanism of the motor 125
170		-	vehicles to ensure their safe operation by him or her and has 126
171		-	satisfactory knowledge of the laws concerning motor vehicles and the 127
172		-	rules of the road. The knowledge test of an applicant for a class D 128
173		-	motor vehicle operator's license [may be administered in such form as 129
174		-	the commissioner deems appropriate, including audio, electronic or 130
175		-	written testing. Such knowledge test shall be administered in English, 131
176		-	Spanish or any language spoken at home by at least one per cent of the 132
177		-	state's population, according to statistics prepared by the United States 133
178		-	Census Bureau, based on the most recent decennial census. Each such 134
179		-	knowledge test] shall include a question concerning highway work 135
180		-	zone safety and the responsibilities of an operator of a motor vehicle 136
181		-	under section 14-212d. Each such knowledge test shall include not less 137
182		-	than one question concerning distracted driving, the use of mobile 138
183		-	telephones and electronic devices by motor vehicle operators or the 139
184		-	responsibilities of motor vehicle operators under section 14-296aa. If 140
185		-	any such applicant has held a license from a state, territory or 141
186		-	possession of the United States where a similar examination is 142
187		-	required, the commissioner may waive part or all of the examination. 143
188		-	If any such applicant is (A) a veteran who applies not later than two 144
189		-	years after the date of discharge from the military and who, prior to 145
190		-	such discharge, held a military operator's license for motor vehicles of 146
191		-	the same class as that for which such applicant has applied, or (B) a 147
192		-	member of the armed forces or the National Guard who currently 148
193		-	holds a military operator's license for motor vehicles of the same class 149
194		-	as that for which such applicant has applied, the commissioner shall 150
195		-	waive all of the examination, except in the case of a commercial motor 151
196		-	vehicle license, the commissioner shall waive the driving skills test for 152 Substitute Bill No. 6656
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203		-	such applicant and may, in such commissioner's discretion, waive the 153
204		-	knowledge test for such application, provided such applicant meets 154
205		-	the conditions set forth in 49 CFR 383.77, as amended from time to 155
206		-	time. For the purposes of this subsection, "veteran" and "armed forces" 156
207		-	have the same meanings as provided in section 27-103. When the 157
208		-	commissioner is satisfied as to the ability and competency of any 158
209		-	applicant, the commissioner may issue to such applicant a license, 159
210		-	either unlimited or containing such limitations as the commissioner 160
211		-	deems advisable, and specifying the class of motor vehicles which the 161
212		-	licensee is eligible to operate. 162
213		-	(4) If any applicant or operator license holder has any health 163
214		-	problem which might affect such person's ability to operate a motor 164
215		-	vehicle safely, the commissioner may require the applicant or license 165
216		-	holder to demonstrate personally or otherwise establish that, 166
217		-	notwithstanding such problem, such applicant or license holder is a 167
218		-	proper person to operate a motor vehicle, and the commissioner may 168
219		-	further require a certificate of such applicant's condition, signed by a 169
220		-	medical authority designated by the commissioner, which certificate 170
221		-	shall in all cases be treated as confidential by the commissioner. A 171
222		-	license, containing such limitation as the commissioner deems 172
223		-	advisable, may be issued or renewed in any case, but nothing in this 173
224		-	section shall be construed to prevent the commissioner from refusing a 174
225		-	license, either limited or unlimited, to any person or suspending a 175
226		-	license of a person whom the commissioner determines to be incapable 176
227		-	of safely operating a motor vehicle. Consistent with budgetary 177
228		-	allotments, each motor vehicle operator's license issued to or renewed 178
229		-	by a person who is deaf or hard of hearing shall, upon the request of 179
230		-	such person, indicate such impairment. Such person shall submit a 180
231		-	certificate stating such impairment, in such form as the commissioner 181
232		-	may require and signed by a licensed health care practitioner. 182
233		-	(5) The issuance of a motor vehicle operator's license to any 183
234		-	applicant who is the holder of a license issued by another state shall be 184
235		-	subject to the provisions of [sections 14-111c and] section 14-111k. 185 Substitute Bill No. 6656
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241		-
242		-	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than October 1, 2023, 186
243		-	the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall offer appointments for the 187
244		-	on-the-road skills test portion of the examination for a motor vehicle 188
245		-	operator's license at drivers' schools, licensed in accordance with the 189
246		-	provisions of section 14-69 of the general statutes. The on-the-road 190
247		-	skills test shall be administered by a motor vehicle inspector agent or 191
248		-	an agent of the commissioner and shall be made available to all 192
249		-	students of such schools who are otherwise eligible to take such test. 193
250		-	Sec. 3. (Effective from passage) On or before February 1, 2024, the 194
251		-	Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall submit a report, in accordance 195
252		-	with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint 196
253		-	standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 197
254		-	matters relating to transportation, regarding the status of entering into 198
255		-	an agreement with Taiwan for the reciprocal recognition of driver 199
256		-	training requirements. 200
	83	+	the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall offer appointments for the 51
	84	+	on-the-road skills test portion of the examination for a motor vehicles 52
	85	+	operator's license at drivers' schools, licensed in accordance with the 53
	86	+	provisions of section 14-69 of the general statutes. The on-the-road skills 54
	87	+	test shall be administered by a motor vehicle inspector agent or an agent 55
	88	+	of the commissioner and shall be made available to all students of such 56
	89	+	schools who are otherwise eligible to take such test. 57
	90	+	Sec. 3. (Effective from passage) On or before February 1, 2024, the 58
	91	+	Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall submit a report, in accordance 59
	92	+	with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint 60
	93	+	standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 61
	94	+	matters relating to transportation regarding the status of entering into 62
	95	+	an agreement with Taiwan for reciprocal recognition of driver training 63
	96	+	requirements. 64
257	97		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
258	98		sections:
259	99
260		-	Section 1 October 1, 2023 14-36(d) ~~and (e)~~
	100	+	Section 1 October 1, 2023 14-36(e)(3)
261	101		Sec. 2 from passage New section
262	102		Sec. 3 from passage New section
263	103
264		-	TRA Joint Favorable Subst.
	104	+	Statement of Purpose:
	105	+	To require (1) the knowledge test for the motor vehicle operator's license
	106	+	to be offered in any language as requested by the applicant, (2) the
	107	+	Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to offer the on-the-road skills test at
	108	+	drivers' school for all students who are otherwise eligible to take such
	109	+	test, and (3) a status report concerning an agreement with Taiwan for
	110	+	reciprocal recognition of driver training requirements.
	111	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	112	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	113	+	underlined.]
265	114