FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2012
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Senate Approves Rafferty's Driver's Education Bill

HARRISBURG -- The State Senate today approved legislation that would promote safe driving among teens by allowing school districts to contract with private driver training schools for classroom instruction, according to Sen. John Rafferty (R-Montgomery).

Current law allows school districts to contract with private driving training instructors to teach behind-the-wheel instruction only. Private driver training instructors are prohibited from teaching the classroom theory instruction of driver education if they are not a "certified teacher."

Rafferty's legislation, Senate Bill 743, would amend the Public School Code to give school districts that do not have a certified driver's education teacher the option to contract with private instructors to teach in a classroom setting.

He said there is a currently a shortage of professional educators certified by the Department of Education to teach driver's education and many school districts no longer offer the class because of financial concerns.

"The goal of this legislation is to help save lives by giving students the training they need to make good choices when they get behind the wheel," Rafferty said. "Car accidents are the number one cause of death for of teens. Having teenagers take driver's education is one way to reduce the chance of getting into a crash by them to the risks and hazards they face as new drivers."

Senate Bill 743 now goes to the governor for his signature.

CONTACT:

Sean Moll
(717) 787-1398