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Minutes for HB2194 - Committee on Transportation
Short Title
Substitute for HB 2194 by Committee on Transportation - relating to motorcycles, approved safety training curriculum and location for safety courses.
Minutes Content for Tue, Jan 23, 2018
Chairperson Petersen opened the hearing on the bill. Scott Wells, Office of Revisor of Statutes, gave an overview of the bill. One amendment to this bill on motorcycle licenses was on page 2, lines 11-12, and would allow an applicant who has successfully completed safety training under the Department of Education-approved curriculum to forgo the written and driving test at the driver's license office. The second amendment is on page 6, lines 20-22 and concerns safety courses offered by school districts; it would prohibit the State Board of Education from requiring the course be conducted in Kansas so long as other requirements are met. This was a carryover bill from last year and some technical amendments will be needed if it moves forward. The House vote on this bill last year was 122-0, therefore passing the House as a whole. Time did not permit the bill to be heard by the Senate Transportation Committee in 2017. Kent Selk, Division of Vehicles, said, if a person successfully completes an approved driver's education testing, no written or driving examination is required for a passenger vehicle license. The eye exam is still required.
Steve Christenberry, Lobbyist, ABATE of Kansas provided proponent testimony (Attachment 1). He has been teaching motorcycle classes since the 1980's, and he currently teaches classes at the Shawnee Heights and Seaman High Schools in Topeka. In 2012, Representative Sloan introduced a bill to allow active-duty military to take their military ID, driver's license, and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) curriculum completion card to Division of Vehicles and get their class M license without further testing. The 12 programs in Kansas approved by the Department of Education are certified by the MSF. Mr. Christenberry stated processes used for other driver education classes are cumbersome and not suited to motorcycle safety classes, which often are taught over a single weekend; the instructors must get information from high school students and enter that information on the Department of Revenue website. The students who take the course are already licensed to operate passenger vehicles. A riding skills test and a written test are part of the high school student classes. The change would streamline the process and eliminate work by all involved.
It was noted the fiscal note distributed was from the bill as introduced and not on the substitute bill approved by the House in 2017.
Senator Schmidt asked if the three-wheel motorcycle training/licensing should be included. Mr. Christenberry answered that the instructors and training would need to be certified. Senator Hawk asked about electric bicycles and the distinction of what defines a motorcycle and the revisors will provide an answer. Mr. Christenberry said he would not be opposed to the Department of Revenue approving the course. Chairperson Petersen said there might be states with which Kansas could reciprocate. Jill Shelley, KLRD, said similar requirements from nearby states are far from identical to those in Kansas. Senator Schmidt asked if this could be added to administrative rules and regulations, and that information be gathered on three-wheel motorcycle training.
There were no other proponents, opponents, or neutrals.
The hearing on the bill was closed.
