Senate committee hears divided views on bill to create state-run alternative to private driver’s ed

Senate Transportation held a hearing on Senate Bill 39 on a proposed state-run alternative to the current mandatory commercial driver’s education program for 16- to 18-year-olds.

Senator Tim Lang (Senate District 2), sponsor of the bill, told the committee the proposal would let eligible teens complete 40 hours of supervised driving (with parental certification), an approved classroom or online knowledge course, vision and knowledge exams at the DMV, and a state-conducted practical training course “designed after our very successful motorcycle training course.” Lang said the bill is the same as last year’s proposal except it raises the program fee to $350 to make the program “revenue positive” based on last year’s fiscal note.

The fiscal estimate and…