Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

Wisconsin Senate Bill SB354 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 SENATE BILL 354
5	5	July 13, 2023 - Introduced by Senators JAMES, HESSELBEIN, BALLWEG, ROYS and
6	6	SPREITZER, cosponsored by Representatives S. JOHNSON, PENTERMAN, ANDRACA,
7	7	CONSIDINE, JOERS, OHNSTAD and SINICKI. Referred to Committee on
8	8	Transportation and Local Government.
9	9	AN ACT to amend 343.16 (3) (a); and to create 38.04 (4) (e) 9., 115.28 (11) (h),
10	10	343.16 (1) (a) 2. am., 343.16 (3) (c) and 343.71 (5) (i) of the statutes; relating
11	11	to: driver education and testing related to school bus safety.
12	12	Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
13	13	Under current law, most operator's licenses issued by the Department of
14	14	Transportation must be renewed every eight years. In general, an applicant for
15	15	renewal of an operator's license must pass an eyesight test and have his or her
16	16	photograph taken. Under this bill, an applicant for renewal must also complete a
17	17	verbal school bus safety examination that includes a test of the applicant's
18	18	awareness of the hazards posed by other motor vehicles to school buses and
19	19	passengers loading onto or unloading from school buses and of the statutes that
20	20	require motorists to stop when a school bus is displaying flashing lights. The
21	21	applicant's performance on the examination does not affect whether or not the
22	22	applicant's license is renewed and, to the extent feasible, DOT must ensure that the
23	23	examination does not extend the time necessary to compete the renewal procedure.
24	24	Currently, applicants for an initial operator's license must generally complete
25	25	a knowledge test and driving skills test. The bill specifies that the knowledge test
26	26	administered to these applicants must include material testing the applicant's
27	27	knowledge of the hazards posed by other motor vehicles to school buses and
28	28	passengers loading onto or unloading from school buses and of the provisions of the
29	29	statutes that require motorists to stop when a school bus is displaying flashing lights.
30	30	Also under the bill, driver education courses offered by school districts,
31	31	technical colleges, and licensed private driver schools must provide instruction in the
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36	36	SENATE BILL 354
37	37	the hazards posed by other motor vehicles to school buses and passengers loading
38	38	onto or unloading from school buses and with the provisions of the statutes that
39	39	require motorists to stop when a school bus is displaying flashing lights.
40	40	For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
41	41	an appendix to this bill.
42	42	The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
43	43	enact as follows:
44	44	SECTION 1. 38.04 (4) (e) 9. of the statutes is created to read:
45	45	38.04 (4) (e) 9. Acquaints each student with the hazards posed by other motor
46	46	vehicles to school buses and passengers loading onto or unloading from school buses
47	47	and with the provisions of s. 346.48.
48	48	SECTION 2. 115.28 (11) (h) of the statutes is created to read:
49	49	115.28 (11) (h) Acquaint each student with the hazards posed by other motor
50	50	vehicles to school buses and passengers loading onto or unloading from school buses
51	51	and with the provisions of s. 346.48.
52	52	SECTION 3. 343.16 (1) (a) 2. am. of the statutes is created to read:
53	53	343.16 (1) (a) 2. am. The knowledge test administered to applicants for initial
54	54	issuance of an operator's license shall include material testing the applicant's
55	55	knowledge of the hazards posed by other motor vehicles to school buses and
56	56	passengers loading onto or unloading from school buses and of the provisions of s.
57	57	346.48.
58	58	SECTION 4. 343.16 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
59	59	343.16 (3) (a) Except as provided in s. 343.165 (4) (d), the department shall
60	60	examine every applicant for the renewal of an operator's license once every 8 years.
61	61	The department may institute a method of selecting the date of renewal so that such
62	62	examination shall be required for each applicant for renewal of a license to gain a
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82	82	LRB-3660/1
83	83	EVM:cdc
84	84	SECTION 4
85	85	SENATE BILL 354
86	86	uniform rate of examinations. Subject to par. pars. (ag) and (am), the examination
87	87	shall consist of a test of eyesight and a school bus safety test under par. (c). The
88	88	department shall make provisions for giving such examinations at examining
89	89	stations in each county to all applicants for an operator's license. The person to be
90	90	examined shall appear at the examining station nearest the person's place of
91	91	residence or at such time and place as the department designates in answer to an
92	92	applicant's request.
93	93	(ag) In lieu of examination of eyesight, the applicant may present or mail to the
94	94	department a report of examination of the applicant's eyesight by an
95	95	ophthalmologist, optometrist, or physician licensed to practice medicine. The report
96	96	shall be based on an examination made not more than 3 months prior to the date it
97	97	is submitted. The report shall be on a form furnished and in the form required by
98	98	the department. The department shall decide whether, in each case, the eyesight
99	99	reported is sufficient to meet the current eyesight standards.
100	100	SECTION 5. 343.16 (3) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
101	101	343.16 (3) (c) Prior to renewal, the department shall administer and the
102	102	applicant shall complete a verbal school bus safety examination that includes a test
103	103	of the applicant's awareness of the hazards posed by other motor vehicles to school
104	104	buses and passengers loading onto or unloading from school buses and with the
105	105	provisions of s. 346.48. The department may not consider the performance of the
106	106	applicant on the examination under this paragraph in the determination of whether
107	107	or not to renew the applicant's operator's license. To the extent feasible, the
108	108	department shall ensure that the examination under this paragraph does not extend
109	109	the time necessary to compete the license renewal procedure.
110	110	SECTION 6. 343.71 (5) (i) of the statutes is created to read:
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137	137	SECTION 6 SENATE BILL 354
138	138	343.71 (5) (i) Acquaints each student with the hazards posed by other motor
139	139	vehicles to school buses and passengers loading onto or unloading from school buses
140	140	and with the provisions of s. 346.48.
141	141	(END)
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