Driver's License Examination Reimbursement

The bill prohibits the department of revenue (department) from collecting a fee when an individual retakes a driving examination when the department does not administer the driving examination.

The bill creates the affordable driver education program testing enterprise (ADEPT enterprise) for the purpose of:

• Increasing access to driver training and driving examination in underserved areas;
• Deploying a free online driver training program in English and Spanish; and
• Reimbursing private driving schools for conducting driving examinations required by state law.

The governing board of the ADEPT enterprise consists of the following members:

• One member who represents the executive director (executive director) of the department and who is the chair of the governing board;
• One member who has experience providing translation services or administering programs that assist individuals for whom English is not their native language;
• One member who has experience working with youth;
• One member who represents rural areas that are underserved by private driving examination providers; and
• One member who represents private driving examination providers.

The governing board may advise the department about rules and may issue bonds. with the approval of the executive director. The governing board is directed to:

• Oversee the implementation of the bill;
• Annually report to the executive director and coordinate with the department;
• Establish policies; and
• Hire employees and obtain necessary office space, equipment, and services.

The bill requires the ADEPT enterprise to:

• Make reasonable efforts to increase access to driver training and driving examinations in areas that are underserved by third-party driving examination providers In areas that do not have a third-party provider within 60 miles from a department or county office that issues driver's licenses, provide driving examinations at least once each week;
• Make available to the public, at no cost, an online driver training program that qualifies the student to be issued an instruction permit and that is offered in English and Spanish;
• Create a system that allows a third-party provider to electronically request and receive information contained in the motorist insurance identification database to verify whether an individual seeking a driving examination has proof of financial responsibility; and
• Reimburse a third-party provider so that the cost to an individual taking an examination is $25 for each initial driving examination and $50 for a reexamination taken after a failed examination; and
• Reimburse counties that provide a driving examination based on the average cost in Colorado of county offices providing driving examinations.

The bill directs the department to promulgate rules establishing procedures for the ADEPT enterprise to reimburse third-party providers and authorizes the department to limit the amount a third-party provider may charge for a driving examination.

Upon request and when reasonably possible, the department is required to provide translation services for driving examinations.

To implement the bill:

• A fee is established on applications for or issuance of an instruction permit or a driver's license.
• $4,833,654 is appropriated to the department of revenue from the ADEPT enterprise fund created in the bill.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)