DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 437 Engrossed 2017 Regular Session White
Abstract: Creates an alternative method of instruction for all or part of the classroom instruction
portion of an approved prelicensing training course.
Present law specifies that no application for a license for the operation of a motor vehicle can be
received from any person making application for the first time unless there is also submitted with
the application, on a form approved by the secretary of the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections,
public safety services, written evidence of the successful completion by the applicant of a driver
education course or a prelicensing training course.
Proposed law authorizes a driver education provider to provide all or part of the six-hour classroom
instruction portion of an approved prelicensing training course by an alternative method of
instruction that does not require students to be present in a traditional classroom, subject to approval
by the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, public safety services.
Proposed law authorizes the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, public safety services to approve
the alternative method if it includes testing and security measures that are at least as secure as the
measures available in the traditional classroom setting and use of the alternative method satisfies any
other requirement applicable to a prelicensing training course taught in the traditional classroom
setting.
Proposed law prohibits any portion of the 30-hour classroom instruction of the driver education
course, required by present law, from being offered in any setting other than a traditional classroom
to persons under the age of 18.
Proposed law authorizes the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, public safety services, to
establish rules and regulations necessary to define the requirements for alternative methods of
instruction for prelicensing training courses.
(Adds R.S. 32:402.1(B))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Transportation, Highways and
Public Works to the original bill:
1. Make technical changes. 2. Clarify that the classroom instruction portion of the prelicensing training course is six
hours and is available to those persons 18 years of age or older.
3. Prohibit persons under the age of 18 from participating in the alternative method of
instruction that does not require students to be present in a traditional classroom.