The Driving School Association of California

The following report was prepared for the Driving School Association of California by our Legislative Advocate Gabe Roberson. We hope that you find this information relevant and useful and remind you that your Association works hard to provide this benefit to you. Please support your Association by becoming a member and attendind our Continuing Education seminars.

Thank you,

Josh Mayes, DSAC President

Note from Gabe Roberson: As of February 22, 2013, the deadline for introduction of bills in the 2013
Session of the Legislature, the Assembly introduced 1376 bills and the Senate
introduced 813 bills, a total of 2189 bills.

AB 17 – HUESO – ENHANCED DRIVER’S LICENSE

Background: The federal Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative adopted in 2009
facilitates travel within the western hemisphere by authorizing the use of enhanced
driver’s licenses and identification cards meeting specified requirements as travel
documents.

AB 17, introduced in the Assembly on December 3, 2012, would authorize the
DMV to enter into a memorandum of understanding with a federal agency for the
purpose of facilitating travels within the western hemisphere pursuant to the federal
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative through the issuance of an enhanced driver’s
license, instruction permit, provisional license, or identification card. The bill would
require a person applying for the initial issuance or renewal of an enhanced driver’s
license, instruction permit, provisional license, or identification card to submit,
under the penalty of perjury, additional proof of identity, residency, and citizenship
that satisfies the requirements of the federal Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

Status: On January 14, 2013, AB 17 was referred to the Assembly Transportation
Committee and also to the Judiciary Committee. The bill must pass these two
committees. No hearing as of February 22, 2013.

DSAC position for AB 17: NEUTRAL

SB 194 – GALGIANI – ELECTRONIC WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS
DEVICES: PROHIBITIONS – DRIVERS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE

SB 194, introduced in the Senate on February 7, 2013, expands the ban of teens
under the age of 18 from using their smartphones behind the wheel, even with a
hands-free device. SB 194 would broaden the state’s ban on talking or texting
while driving for motorists under 18, prohibiting those drivers from using any
“electronic wireless communications device, even if it is hands-free. The aim of

SB 194 is to make sure drivers with provisional licenses do not use touch-screen or
voice-command technologies that have been introduced in new car models and is
currently authorized by enactment of AB 1536 passed by the Legislature last year
that became law on January 1, 2013. The introduction of SB 194 is a direct result of
the efforts of Dr. Richard Harkness, developer of teenSMART who has sounded the
alarm of the dangers of the use of the new technologies authorized by AB 1536 not
only for new drivers under the age of 18 but drivers of all ages which is the purpose
of the introduction of AB 313 contained in this report. SB 194 is sponsored by the
California Highway Patrol that estimates that half of all teens pulled over were
texting or using other technology at the time of the violation.

DSAC position for SB 194: SUPPORT

AB 313 – FRAZIER – ELECTRONIC WIRELESS COMMUNICATION
DEVICES – PROHIBITIONS – DRIVERS OF ALL AGES

AB 313, introduced in the Assembly on February 12, 2013, prohibits texting with
hands-free mobile devices while driving by outlawing voice-controlled devices
which were authorized by AB 1536 that became law on January 1, 2013. The bill
states that there are no studies supporting texting with voice-activated devices while
driving as safe. It also states that distracted driving was responsible in 3,300 deaths
and more than 400,000 injuries nationally in 2011.

DSAC Position on AB 313: SUPPORT

AB 724 – COOLEY – GRADUATED DRIVER LICENSING

AB 724, introduced on February 21, 2013 as a “Spot Bill” requires applicants for a
driver’s license between the ages of 16 -19 to complete driver education and behind-
the-wheel instruction and to complete the GDL process. It is Gabe’s understanding
that the bill is intended to apply to persons between the ages of 16-20. As a practical
matter, in order for California to qualify for the millions of federal dollars available
through the MAP 21 GDL grants legislation, AB 724 requires amendments as
follows:

1. The 6 month learner permit stage must apply to any novice driver who is less
than 21 years of age when first applying for a permit.
2. A learner permit holder must pass a driving skills test prior to entering the
intermediate stage or being issued another permit, license or endorsement.
3. Change from 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. the prohibition of
driving during these hours unless accompanied and supervised by a licensed
driver who is the licensee’s parent or guardian, a licensed driver who is 25
years of age or older, or a licensed or certified driving instructor.
4. The intermediate license holder is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle
with more than one non-familial passenger younger than 21 years of age
unless a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age is in the motor vehicle.

DSAC position on AB 724: SUPPORT

AB 833 – HARKEY – VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEES

AB 833, introduced on February 21, 2013, states it is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation that would convert vehicle registration fees into taxes. This is a
“Spot Bill” that will be followed to determine its proposed changes.

DSAC position for AB 833: WATCH

AB 840 – AMMIANO – DRIVER’S LICENSE TESTS: BICYCLES

AB 840, introduced on February 21, 2003, revises the DMV driver’s license test to
include a test of the applicant’s knowledge and understanding of the provisions of
the California Driver Handbook relating to bicycling, including, but not limited to,
bicycle markings, bicycle lanes, and bicycles in travel lanes.

DSAC position for AB 840: SUPPORT

AB – 1113 – FRAZIER – PROVISIONAL LICENSING: RESTRICTIONS

AB 1113, introduced on February 22, 2013, amends the Provisional Licensing Law
(GDL) to change the nighttime driving prohibition from 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. to 10
p.m. and 5 a.m. in order for California to qualify for federal grant funds authorized
by the federal Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act known as MAP
21. The bill also prohibits a provisional licensee from transporting passengers
under the age of 21. The existing prohibition is age 20 unless accompanied and
supervised by a licensed driver who is the licensee’s parent or guardian, a licensed
driver who is 25 years of age or older, or a licensed or certified driving instructor.

As reported under AB 724, to conform to the MAP 21 Grants requirements, AB
1113 would have to be amended to include:

1. The 6 month learner permit stage must apply to any novice driver who is less
than 21 years of age when first applying for a permit.
2. A learner permit holder must pass a driving skills test prior to entering the
intermediate stage or being issued another permit, license or endorsement.

Assembly member Frazier’s Chief of Staff, Debra Gravert, our good friend, will be
contacted to determine the sponsor of the bill. It may be Kelly Browning.

DSAC position on AB 1113: SUPPORT

AB 1115 – JONES – DRIVER’S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

AB 1115, introduced on February 22, 2013, amends Section 12509 of the Vehicle
Code to apply to an applicant applying for an instruction permit who is over 17
years and 6 months of age and is applying for a driver’s license pursuant to new
Vehicle Code section 12814.9. This new Section prohibits the DMV from issuing a
driver’s license to a person who is 18 years of age or older unless the person meets
the following requirements:

1. The person shall have held an instruction permit prior to applying for
a driver’s license. The DMV shall issue the instruction permit upon
satisfactory completion of a written examination.
2. Satisfactory completion of a driver education program that is approved
by the department. The driver education program may be conducted
through the Internet or by a driving instructor licensed under Chapter 1
(commencing with Section 11100) of Division 5.
3. Satisfactory completion of a driving test, as required by the department.
4. Before retaking an examination or test required by this section, the person
shall wait for not less than one week after failure of the written test and for
not less than two weeks after failure of the driving test.

DSAC position on AB 1115: WATCH