GRADUATED DRIVER LICENSE - H.B. 4778 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 4778 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Representative Paul DeWeese
House Committee: Transportation
Senate Committee: Transportation and Tourism
CONTENT
The bill would amend driver education provisions of the Michigan Vehicle Code to:
-- Allow the Secretary of State (SOS) to prescribe the method and examination criteria to be used by a person conducting a road test under an agreement with the SOS.
-- Make it a felony for a person to bribe an examining officer or alter a road test certification, or for an examining officer to vary from the prescribed method or criteria.
-- Allow the Secretary of State to reduce a person's graduated driver license level or delay advancement to the next level at a parent's request.
-- Allow reimbursement to the parent of a student who completed a driving education course.
-- Provide that a public school system's driver education enrollment fee would have to be the same for all residents of the school system.
-- Eliminate the $11 fee for a road test conducted by the SOS; the $60 fee for a road test for a vehicle group designation or indorsement; and the $15 fee for a motorcycle driving test.
The bill also would extend for one year, until January 1, 2002, the 50-cent tire disposal surcharge for each certificate of title, salvage vehicle certificate of title, or scrap certificate.
MCL 257.309 et al. - Legislative Analyst: S. Lowe
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on local school districts, by mandating that a school system charge the same enrollment fee for all resident pupils enrolled in the course. This could affect a local school district that currently uses some type of graduated fee. For example, if a district waives or reduces the fee based on a pupil's income or at-risk status, the bill would require the district to discontinue this practice.
The bill's criminal penalties also would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on State and local government. There are no data available to indicate how many offenders could be convicted of the proposed crimes. Local governments would incur the costs of incarceration for offenders sentenced to terms of incarceration less than 18 months and the State would incur costs for offenders with terms longer than 18 months and/or for probation supervision.
The Department of State does not conduct behind-the-wheel road tests or motorcycle operator driving tests; thus elimination of fees for tests conducted by the Secretary of State would have no fiscal impact.
Date Completed: 12-1-00 - Fiscal Analyst: K. Summers-Coty/K. Firestone/J. Runnels
floor\hb4778 - Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.