Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB614 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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3	3	2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
4	4	2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 614
5	5	October 31, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives S. JOHNSON, JOERS, OHNSTAD,
6	6	CONSIDINE, SINICKI, ANDRACA, PENTERMAN, DONOVAN and ROZAR, cosponsored
7	7	by Senators JAMES, SPREITZER, ROYS and BALLWEG. Referred to Committee on
8	8	Transportation.
9	9	*AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*
10	10	AN ACT to amend 343.16 (3) (a); and to create 38.04 (4) (e) 9., 115.28 (11) (h),
11	11	343.16 (1) (a) 2. am., 343.16 (3) (c) and 343.71 (5) (i) of the statutes; relating
12	12	to: driver education and testing related to school bus safety.
13	13	Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
14	14	Under current law, most operator's licenses issued by the Department of
15	15	Transportation must be renewed every eight years. In general, an applicant for
16	16	renewal of an operator's license must pass an eyesight test and have his or her
17	17	photograph taken. Under this bill, an applicant for renewal must also complete a
18	18	verbal school bus safety examination that includes a test of the applicant's
19	19	awareness of the hazards posed by other motor vehicles to school buses and
20	20	passengers loading onto or unloading from school buses and of the statutes that
21	21	require motorists to stop when a school bus is displaying flashing lights. The
22	22	applicant's performance on the examination does not affect whether or not the
23	23	applicant's license is renewed and, to the extent feasible, DOT must ensure that the
24	24	examination does not extend the time necessary to compete the renewal procedure.
25	25	Currently, applicants for an initial operator's license must generally complete
26	26	a knowledge test and driving skills test. The bill specifies that the knowledge test
27	27	administered to these applicants must include material testing the applicant's
28	28	knowledge of the hazards posed by other motor vehicles to school buses and
29	29	passengers loading onto or unloading from school buses and of the provisions of the
30	30	statutes that require motorists to stop when a school bus is displaying flashing lights.
31	31	Also under the bill, driver education courses offered by school districts,
32	32	technical colleges, and licensed private driver schools must provide instruction in the
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36	36	EVM:cdc
37	37	ASSEMBLY BILL 614
38	38	the hazards posed by other motor vehicles to school buses and passengers loading
39	39	onto or unloading from school buses and with the provisions of the statutes that
40	40	require motorists to stop when a school bus is displaying flashing lights.
41	41	For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
42	42	an appendix to this bill.
43	43	The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
44	44	enact as follows:
45	45	SECTION 1. 38.04 (4) (e) 9. of the statutes is created to read:
46	46	38.04 (4) (e) 9. Acquaints each student with the hazards posed by other motor
47	47	vehicles to school buses and passengers loading onto or unloading from school buses
48	48	and with the provisions of s. 346.48.
49	49	SECTION 2. 115.28 (11) (h) of the statutes is created to read:
50	50	115.28 (11) (h) Acquaint each student with the hazards posed by other motor
51	51	vehicles to school buses and passengers loading onto or unloading from school buses
52	52	and with the provisions of s. 346.48.
53	53	SECTION 3. 343.16 (1) (a) 2. am. of the statutes is created to read:
54	54	343.16 (1) (a) 2. am. The knowledge test administered to applicants for initial
55	55	issuance of an operator's license shall include material testing the applicant's
56	56	knowledge of the hazards posed by other motor vehicles to school buses and
57	57	passengers loading onto or unloading from school buses and of the provisions of s.
58	58	346.48.
59	59	SECTION 4. 343.16 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
60	60	343.16 (3) (a) Except as provided in s. 343.165 (4) (d), the department shall
61	61	examine every applicant for the renewal of an operator's license once every 8 years.
62	62	The department may institute a method of selecting the date of renewal so that such
63	63	examination shall be required for each applicant for renewal of a license to gain a
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83	83	LRB-2247/2
84	84	EVM:cdc
85	85	SECTION 4
86	86	ASSEMBLY BILL 614
87	87	uniform rate of examinations. Subject to par. pars. (ag) and (am), the examination
88	88	shall consist of a test of eyesight and a school bus safety test under par. (c). The
89	89	department shall make provisions for giving such examinations at examining
90	90	stations in each county to all applicants for an operator's license. The person to be
91	91	examined shall appear at the examining station nearest the person's place of
92	92	residence or at such time and place as the department designates in answer to an
93	93	applicant's request.
94	94	(ag) In lieu of examination of eyesight, the applicant may present or mail to the
95	95	department a report of examination of the applicant's eyesight by an
96	96	ophthalmologist, optometrist, or physician licensed to practice medicine. The report
97	97	shall be based on an examination made not more than 3 months prior to the date it
98	98	is submitted. The report shall be on a form furnished and in the form required by
99	99	the department. The department shall decide whether, in each case, the eyesight
100	100	reported is sufficient to meet the current eyesight standards.
101	101	SECTION 5. 343.16 (3) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
102	102	343.16 (3) (c) Prior to renewal, the department shall administer and the
103	103	applicant shall complete a verbal school bus safety examination that includes a test
104	104	of the applicant's awareness of the hazards posed by other motor vehicles to school
105	105	buses and passengers loading onto or unloading from school buses and with the
106	106	provisions of s. 346.48. The department may not consider the performance of the
107	107	applicant on the examination under this paragraph in the determination of whether
108	108	or not to renew the applicant's operator's license. To the extent feasible, the
109	109	department shall ensure that the examination under this paragraph does not extend
110	110	the time necessary to compete the license renewal procedure.
111	111	SECTION 6. 343.71 (5) (i) of the statutes is created to read:
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138	138	SECTION 6 ASSEMBLY BILL 614
139	139	343.71 (5) (i) Acquaints each student with the hazards posed by other motor
140	140	vehicles to school buses and passengers loading onto or unloading from school buses
141	141	and with the provisions of s. 346.48.
142	142	(END)
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