Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H5768

Introduced
2/21/23  
Refer
2/21/23  
Report Pass
5/30/23  
Engrossed
6/7/23  
Engrossed
6/13/23  

Caption

Operators' And Chauffeurs' Licenses

Impact

The bill impacts existing laws by ensuring that driver education programs evolve to include contemporary issues related to driving safety. Specifically, it necessitates that the community college of Rhode Island provides a structured curriculum of thirty-three hours of classroom instruction for young drivers, incorporating substance abuse education. Through this legislation, the state seeks to decrease the risks associated with alcohol and drug use while driving, thereby aiming to reduce overall motor vehicle accidents among the youth population.

Summary

House Bill H5768 relates to operators' and chauffeurs' licenses in Rhode Island, primarily amending the regulations surrounding driver education courses. The bill mandates that driver education programs must incorporate a curriculum addressing the dangers of marijuana-impaired driving, as well as dangers associated with distracted driving, such as the use of mobile phones. This addition aims to enhance the awareness of young drivers on the implications of such impairments on their ability to operate a vehicle safely.

Sentiment

The general sentiment around H5768 appears to be supportive of the safety enhancements proposed by the bill. Many stakeholders recognize the importance of updating education standards to reflect current societal challenges, such as the increasing prevalence of marijuana use and its impact on driving. However, some contention may arise regarding the implementation of the curriculum and funding for these new educational requirements, specifically how they may affect community college resources and program accessibility for diverse populations.

Contention

One significant point of contention lies in the course requirements that obligate parents, guardians, or their designees to participate in educational programs about drivers' education. Concerns may be raised about the accessibility of these courses and the potential financial burden they might place on families, especially if community college resources are strained. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the newly required curriculum in truly changing driver behavior remains a subject of discussion among advocates for traffic safety.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Similar Bills

RI S0667

Operators' And Chauffeurs' Licenses

RI S0362

Exempts foster care individuals from drivers education fee at community college of Rhode Island.

RI H5143

Exempts foster care individuals from drivers education fee at community college of Rhode Island.

MD HB119

County Boards of Education - Curriculum Guides and Courses of Study - Requirements

MD SB1058

Education - Curriculum Standards - Antihate and Holocaust Education (Educate to Stop the Hate Act)

MD SB916

Education - Curriculum Standards - Requirements (Educate to Stop the Hate Act)

PA HB301

In preliminary provisions, further providing for special provisions applicable to limited school years; in duties and powers of board of school directors, further providing for additional schools and departments; in grounds and buildings, further providing for limitation on new applications for Department of Education approval of public school building projects; in school directors' associations and county boards of school directors, further providing for powers and duties; in intermediate units, further providing for visual services and for school safety and security enhancements; in certification of teachers, further providing for substitute teaching permit for prospective teachers and for locally issued temporary certification for substitute teachers, repealing provisions relating to permit for classroom monitors and providing for permit for classroom monitors; providing for the Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program; in pupils and attendance, further providing for compulsory education of physical defectives, for school lunch and breakfast reimbursement, for dependent children, for actual cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children in the four chartered schools for education of the deaf and the blind, for payment of cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children, for transfer of funds for transferal programs and for children under six with defective hearing and parent or guardian advised of schools, etc.; in safe schools, further providing for definitions and for Office for Safe Schools, repealing provisions relating to regulations and to reporting, further providing for policy relating to bullying and for maintenance of records and repealing provisions relating to Safe Schools Advocate in School Districts of the First Class, to standing, to enforcement and to construction of article and other laws; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions and for school safety and security committee, providing for duties of committee, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program, providing for Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program, for standardized protocols, for county safe schools' collaborative and for school mental health grants for 2023-2024 school year, further providing for school safety and security coordinator training and providing for reporting and memorandum of understanding, for safe schools advocate in school districts of the first class and for enforcement; in school security, further providing for definitions, for school police officers, for annual report and for school security guards; in character education program, further providing for character education program; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in educational tax credits, further providing for definitions, for qualification and application by organizations and for limitations; in school districts of the first class, further providing for qualifications of principals and teachers; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2023-2024; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for definitions and for payments on account of pupils enrolled in career and technical curriculums, for payments on account of courses for exceptional children, for payments to intermediate units, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status, for payments, for payments on account of pupil transportation, for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant and for payment of required contribution for public school employees' Social Security; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; providing for School Environmental Repairs Program; and making an editorial change.

MO SB681

Modifies provisions relating to elementary and secondary education