1 Driver Education. Amend RSA 263:19, I to read as follows:

I. A driver's license may be issued subject to the provisions of this chapter to a person under the age of 18 years who has attained his or her sixteenth birthday, if such person shall present a certificate of successful completion of a driver education course given by a public or nonpublic secondary school and approved by the department of education in cooperation with the department of safety or given by a motor vehicle drivers' school licensed under the provisions of this chapter. An approved driver education course licensed under this chapter, shall consist of not less than 30 hours of classroom instruction, not less than 10 hours of behind the wheel driver training and not less than 6 hours of observation, in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to RSA 541-A, published by the commissioner of safety, such standards to be not less than those presently required. The classroom instruction shall include 45 minutes of a nationally-recognized motorcycle safety education course approved by the director, and 45 minutes of a nationally-recognized tractor-trailer safety education and awareness course approved by the director, and one hour of instruction on the dangers of leaving animals, babies, and elderly persons in vehicles in extreme temperatures. The department of safety, by the nature of its function, shall be held ultimately responsible for setting and maintaining the quality standards for driver education in the state. This authority shall apply uniformly over both secondary school courses and private motor vehicle drivers' school courses.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

1 Driver Education. Amend RSA 263:19, I to read as follows:

I. A driver's license may be issued subject to the provisions of this chapter to a person under the age of 18 years who has attained his or her sixteenth birthday, if such person shall present a certificate of successful completion of a driver education course given by a public or nonpublic secondary school and approved by the department of education in cooperation with the department of safety or given by a motor vehicle drivers' school licensed under the provisions of this chapter. An approved driver education course licensed under this chapter, shall consist of not less than 30 hours of classroom instruction, not less than 10 hours of behind the wheel driver training and not less than 6 hours of observation, in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to RSA 541-A, published by the commissioner of safety, such standards to be not less than those presently required. The classroom instruction shall include 45 minutes of a nationally-recognized motorcycle safety education course approved by the director, 45 minutes of a nationally-recognized tractor-trailer safety education and awareness course approved by the director, and one hour of instruction on the dangers of leaving animals, babies, and elderly persons in vehicles in extreme temperatures. The department of safety, by the nature of its function, shall be held ultimately responsible for setting and maintaining the quality standards for driver education in the state. This authority shall apply uniformly over both secondary school courses and private motor vehicle drivers' school courses.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.