Proposals to fund junior‑operator education, shorten passenger restriction period get support at hearing
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Summary
Lawmakers heard proposals to create a junior operator license fund to help low‑income families pay for driver's education and to shorten the passenger restriction period for junior operators; sponsors said the measures would increase access and consumer protections.
The Joint Committee on Transportation heard testimony on legislation to establish a junior operator license fund and to ease certain junior‑operator restrictions, measures intended to improve access to driver's education for low‑ and moderate‑income families.
Senator Joan Lovely (S.2415 / H.3643) described two main components: a fund to subsidize driver education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and changes to the junior‑operator rules to reduce the passenger restriction period. "The cost of driver's ed programs can be excessively high for some families," Lovely said, and the proposed fund would provide assistance and accept public donations.
Representative Orlando Ramos and Representative Cruz (testifying in support) emphasized consumer protections and data collection. Rep. Cruz said the bill would create eligibility checks tied to benefit programs (SNAP/WIC) and require refunds or stronger consumer remedies if a private provider does not deliver the contracted course.
The bill would also allow junior operators to carry passengers under 18 after 90 days (three months) rather than the current six‑month restriction, a change supporters said would reduce multiple single‑occupant teen vehicle trips and provide practical family benefits.
Why it matters: supporters argued the fund and modest rule changes would expand access to formal driver education, a policy they linked to improved teen driving outcomes. Sponsors asked the committee for a favorable report and for continued work on consumer protections and data transparency from driver‑education providers.