Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 147 (2015GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Eliason, S.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/26/2015

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• provides that if an applicant has been issued an equivalent learner permit by another state or branch of the United States Armed Forces, the applicant is subject to the driver education, testing, age, and fee requirements;
• provides that an applicant for an original or provisional class D license shall pass a knowledge test approved by the division;
• provides that a percentage of the test questions included in the knowledge test shall cover the topic of major causes of traffic related deaths as identified in statistics published by the Highway Safety Office; and
• makes technical corrections.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

DRIVER LICENSE TESTING AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Steve Eliason
Senate Sponsor: 
Deidre M. Henderson
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies the Uniform Driver License Act by amending provisions relating to
driver license testing.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ provides that if an applicant has been issued an equivalent learner permit by another
state or branch of the United States Armed Forces, the applicant is subject to the
driver education, testing, age, and fee requirements;
▸ provides that an applicant for an original or provisional class D license shall pass a
knowledge test approved by the division;
▸ provides that a percentage of the test questions included in the knowledge test shall
cover the topic of major causes of traffic related deaths as identified in statistics
published by the Highway Safety Office; and
▸ makes technical corrections.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53-3-210.5
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 176
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53-3-210.5
 is amended to read:
53-3-210.5.
Learner permit.
(1) Beginning on August 1, 2006, the division, upon receiving an application for a
learner permit, may issue a learner permit effective for one year to an applicant who is at least
15 years of age.
(2) (a) The learner permit entitles an applicant that is 18 years of age or older to operate
a class D motor vehicle only if:
(i) a person 21 years of age or older who is a licensed driver is occupying a seat beside
the applicant; and
(ii) the applicant has the learner permit in the applicant's immediate possession while
operating the motor vehicle.
(b) The learner permit entitles an applicant that is younger than 18 years of age to
operate a class D motor vehicle only if:
(i) (A) an approved driving instructor is occupying a seat beside the applicant;
(B) the applicant's parent or legal guardian, who must be a licensed driver, is
occupying a seat beside the applicant; or
(C) a responsible adult who has signed for the applicant under Section 
53-3-211
 and
who must be a licensed driver, is occupying a seat beside the applicant; and
(ii) the applicant has the learner permit in the applicant's immediate possession while
operating the motor vehicle.
(3) The division shall issue a learner permit to an applicant who:
(a) is at least 15 years of age;
(b) has passed the knowledge test required by the division;
(c) has passed the physical and mental fitness tests; and
(d) has submitted a nonrefundable fee for a learner permit under Section 
53-3-105
.
(4) (a) The division shall supply the learner permit form.
(b) The form under Subsection (4)(a) shall include:
(i) the applicant's full name, date of birth, sex, Utah residence address, height, weight,
and eye color;
(ii) the date of issuance and expiration of the permit; and
(iii) the conditions and restrictions contained in this section for operating a class D
motor vehicle.
(5) An application and fee for a learner permit entitle the applicant to:
(a) not more than three attempts to pass the knowledge test for a class D license within
one year; and
(b) a learner permit after the knowledge test is passed.
(6) (a) If an applicant has been issued a learner permit under this section 
or an
equivalent by another state or branch of the United States Armed Forces
, the applicant may be
issued an original or provisional class D license from the division upon:
(i) completing a driver education course in a:
(A) commercial driver training school licensed under Part 5, Commercial Driver
Training Schools Act; or
(B) driver education program approved by the State Board of Education or the division;
(ii) passing a knowledge test approved by the division that complies with the
requirement of Subsection (6)(d);
[
(ii)
] 
(iii)
 passing the skills test approved by the division;
[
(iii)
] 
(iv)
 reaching 16 years of age; and
[
(iv)
] 
(v)
 paying the nonrefundable fee for an original or provisional class D license
application under Section 
53-3-105
.
(b) In addition to the requirements under Subsection (6)(a), an applicant who is 17
years of age or younger is required to hold a learner permit for six months before applying for a
provisional class D license.
(c) An applicant is exempt from the requirement under Subsection (6)(a)(i) if the
applicant:
(i) is 19 years of age or older;
(ii) holds a learner permit for three months before applying for an original class D
license; and
(iii) certifies that the applicant, under the authority of a permit issued under this
chapter, has completed at least 40 hours of driving a motor vehicle, of which at least 10 hours
were completed during night hours after sunset.
(d) Fifty percent of the test questions included in the knowledge test required under
Subsection (6)(a)(ii) shall cover the topic of major causes of traffic related deaths as identified
in statistics published by the Highway Safety Office.
Section 2. 
Effective date.
This bill takes effect on January 1, 2016.