SB-1066, As Passed House, December 19, 2008
HOUSE SUBSTITUTE FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 1066
A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled
"Michigan vehicle code,"
(MCL 257.1 to 257.923) by adding sections 3a and 320d.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 3a. "Basic driver improvement course" means a course of
study that satisfies all of the following conditions:
(a) It meets or exceeds the curriculum standards set forth in
the defensive driving course instructor manual, eighth edition,
published by the national safety council.
(b) It provides documented evidence from a federal, state, or
local agency of course effectiveness in reducing collisions, moving
violations, or both.
(c) It contains such other information as is approved by the
secretary of state and that is offered over the internet or through
classroom instruction.
Sec. 320d. (1) The secretary of state shall not enter the
points corresponding to a moving violation committed by an
individual the secretary of state determines to be eligible under
this section on the individual's driving record or make information
concerning that violation available to any insurance company if the
individual attends and successfully completes a basic driver
improvement course under this section and provides a certificate of
successful completion of that course to the secretary of state
within 60 days of the date on which the secretary of state notified
the individual that he or she was eligible to take a basic driver
improvement course.
(2) The secretary of state shall determine if an individual is
eligible under subsection (3) to attend a basic driver improvement
course upon receipt of an abstract of a moving violation. If the
secretary of state determines that an individual is eligible to
attend a basic driver improvement course, the secretary of state
shall do all of the following:
(a) Except as otherwise provided under subsection (8),
postpone both of the following for a period of not less than 10
business days:
(i) The entry of points under section 320a for the moving
violation.
(ii) Making information contained in the abstract of the moving
violation available to the individual's insurance company.
(b) Notify the individual of his or her eligibility by first-
class mail at the individual's last known address as indicated on
the individual's operator's or chauffeur's license, and inform the
individual of the location of basic driver improvement courses, and
inform the individual of the manner and time within which the
individual is required to notify the secretary of state of the
individual's intent to attend a basic driver improvement course.
(c) Notify the individual that if the individual fails to
notify the secretary of state of the individual's intent to attend
a basic driver improvement course as described under subdivision
(b), points will be entered for the moving violation as described
in subsection (8).
(3) An individual is ineligible to take a basic driver
improvement course if any of the following apply:
(a) The violation occurred while the individual was operating
a commercial motor vehicle or was licensed as a commercial driver
while operating a noncommercial motor vehicle at the time of the
offense.
(b) The violation is a criminal offense.
(c) The violation is a violation for which 4 or more points
may be assessed under section 320a.
(d) The violation is a violation of section 626b, 627(9),
627a, or 682.
(e) The individual was cited for more than 1 moving violation
arising from the same incident.
(f) The individual's license was suspended under section
321a(2) in connection with the violation.
(g) The individual previously successfully completed a basic
driver improvement course.
(h) The individual has 3 or more points on his or her driving
record.
(i) The individual's operator's or chauffeur's license is
restricted, suspended, or revoked, or the individual was not issued
an operator's or chauffeur's license.
(4) The secretary of state shall maintain a computerized
database of the following:
(a) Individuals who have attended a basic driver improvement
course.
(b) Individuals who have successfully completed a basic driver
improvement course.
(5) The database maintained under subsection (4) shall only be
used for determining eligibility under subsection (3). The
secretary of state shall only make the information contained in the
database available to approved sponsors under subsection (10).
Information in this database concerning an individual shall be
maintained for the life of that individual.
(6) An individual shall be charged a fee of not more than
$100.00 to participate in a basic driver improvement course and, if
applicable, to obtain a certificate in a form as approved by the
secretary of state demonstrating that he or she successfully
completed the course.
(7) Fees collected under this subsection shall be credited to
the basic driver improvement course fund created under subsection
(9).
(8) The secretary of state shall immediately enter the points
for the moving violation on the individual's driving record as
follows:
(a) Ten business days after an individual described in
subsection (2) fails to notify the secretary of state that he or
she desires to attend a basic driver improvement course.
(b) Sixty days after an individual described in subsection (2)
who has properly notified the secretary of state that he or she
desires to attend a basic driver improvement course but has failed
to submit a certificate of successful completion of a basic driver
improvement course.
(9) The basic driver improvement course fund is created within
the state treasury. The state treasurer may receive money or other
assets from any source for deposit into the fund. The state
treasurer shall direct the investment of the fund. Money in the
fund at the close of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund and
shall not lapse to the general fund. The secretary of state shall
be the administrator of the fund for auditing purposes. The
secretary of state shall expend money from the fund, upon
appropriation, only to pay the costs of administering this section.
(10) An approved sponsor shall conduct a study of the effect,
if any, that the successful completion of its basic driver
improvement course has on reducing collisions, moving violations,
or both for students completing its course in this state. An
approved sponsor shall conduct this study every 5 years on each of
the course delivery modalities employed by the approved sponsor.
The secretary of state shall make all of the following information
available to the approved course sponsor for that purpose, subject
to applicable state and federal laws governing the release of
information:
(a) The number of individuals who successfully complete a
basic driver improvement course under this section.
(b) The number of individuals who are eligible to take a basic
driver improvement course under this section but who do not
successfully complete that course.
(c) The number and type of moving violations committed by
individuals after successfully completing a basic driver
improvement course under this section in comparison to the number
and type of moving violations committed by individuals who have not
taken a basic driver improvement course.
(11) The secretary of state shall report on the findings of
all studies conducted under subsection (10) to the standing
committees of the house of representatives and senate on
transportation issues.
(12) The secretary of state shall approve basic driver
improvement course sponsors if the basic driver improvement course
offered by that sponsor satisfies the requirements listed in
section 3a.
(13) As used in this section, "approved sponsor" means a
sponsor of a basic driver improvement course that is approved by
the secretary of state under subsection (12).
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect December
31, 2010.