Florida Senate - 2011                                     SB 758
       
       
       
       By Senator Sobel
       
       
       
       
       31-00564A-11                                           2011758__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to driver improvement schools and
    3         education programs for driver’s license applicants;
    4         amending ss. 318.1451 and 322.095, F.S.; requiring the
    5         curricula of such programs to include instruction on
    6         the risks associated with using a handheld electronic
    7         communication device while operating a motor vehicle;
    8         providing an effective date.
    9  
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
   13  318.1451, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   14         318.1451 Driver improvement schools.—
   15         (2)(a) In determining whether to approve the courses
   16  referenced in this section, the department shall consider course
   17  content designed to promote safety, driver awareness, crash
   18  avoidance techniques, awareness of the risks associated with
   19  using a handheld electronic communication device while operating
   20  a motor vehicle, and other factors or criteria to improve driver
   21  performance from a safety viewpoint.
   22         Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 322.095, Florida
   23  Statutes, is amended to read:
   24         322.095 Traffic law and substance abuse education program
   25  for driver’s license applicants.—
   26         (1) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
   27  must approve traffic law and substance abuse education courses
   28  that must be completed by applicants for a Florida driver’s
   29  license. The curricula for the courses must provide instruction
   30  on the physiological and psychological consequences of the abuse
   31  of alcohol and other drugs, the societal and economic costs of
   32  alcohol and drug abuse, the effects of alcohol and drug abuse on
   33  the driver of a motor vehicle, the risks associated with using a
   34  handheld electronic communication device while operating a motor
   35  vehicle, and the laws of this state relating to the operation of
   36  a motor vehicle. All instructors teaching the courses shall be
   37  certified by the department.
   38         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.