| 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. |
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| 10 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
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| 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, 2012. |