BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1024
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Date of Hearing: May 6, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
1024 (Beth Gaines) - As Amended April 14, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill establishes the following alternative licensing
requirements for new driving school operators who strictly
provide internet-based instruction:
AB 1024
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1)Pass a DMV-required examination, as specified, within three
attempts and pay a fee to DMV for each exam taken.
2)Be at least 21 years of age.
3)Successfully complete a minimum 8-hour educational program, as
specified, that is acceptable to the DMV.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Minor absorbable costs to the DMV.
COMMENTS:
1)Background. Currently a minor between 15-and-a-half years old
and 18 years old interested in obtaining a driver's license
must first complete both a driver's education course and a six
hour behind-the-wheel driver's training course. DMV licenses
and approves all owners, operators, and instructors of
driver's education and driver's training courses. DMV also
establishes course curricula, conducts monitoring activities,
and performs other regulatory functions. Students are also
provided a wide range of driver's education and training
courses, including classroom only, combined classroom and
behind-the-wheel training, home study, Internet-based, and
separate driver's training instruction.
2)Purpose. The author indicates that AB 1024 is intended to
eliminate what she believes is an unnecessary requirement for
Internet-based driver's education operators. Presently a
driver's education operator must meet a number of requirements
AB 1024
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in order to obtain a DMV-issued occupational license,
including serving as a driving instructor for a minimum of
2,000 hours. While these requirements ensured an operator was
adequately trained to manage both driver's education and
training courses twenty years ago, the use of Internet-based
companies solely providing driver's education courses has
steadily increased. These online courses typically provide
only driver's education coursework and then, upon successful
completion, refer the student to local driver's training
courses. An available instructor or operator is required to
be available via online chat or through a customer service
line to answer any questions a student may pose.
This bill, sponsored by The Distance Learning Company,
provides an alternative set of licensing requirements for new
operators who only administer Internet-based driver's
education. Notably, this bill replaces the 2,000-hour
behind-the-wheel instructor requirement with an eight-hour
mandatory driver's education program that must be successfully
completed.
Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)
319-2081