S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7234
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 18, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and  traffic  law,  in  relation  to  driver
   education
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 507 of  the  vehicle  and  traffic
 law,  as separately amended by chapters 229 and 230 of the laws of 2020,
 is amended to read as follows:
   1. Driver education. Notwithstanding  any  other  provisions  of  this
 article,  a class D or class M license, whichever is appropriate, may be
 issued to a minor seventeen years of age who has successfully  completed
 a driver education course approved by the state education department and
 the  commissioner in a high school or college OR APPROVED BY THE COMMIS-
 SIONER FOR A COURSE AT A LICENSED NEW YORK STATE DRIVING SCHOOL and  who
 has  submitted  proof  of  completion of the minimum hours of supervised
 driving as required in paragraph (d) of subdivision two of section  five
 hundred  two  of  this  article; provided however, the Yeshiva of Staten
 Island, which operates as a high school, may  provide  driver  education
 courses at the Arthur Kill Road Jewish Community Center of Staten Island
 and  the Manor Road Jewish Community Center of Staten Island, located in
 the county of Richmond; provided however, the Hebrew Academy  of  Nassau
 County,  a  unified  school  that  operates a high school, may provide a
 driver education course approved by the state education department in  a
 middle  school  or  elementary  school  location  provided  such  course
 instruction occurs when elementary or middle school is not  in  session.
 No  such driver education course may be approved unless classroom train-
 ing is provided by a person approved by the state  education  department
 and  the  commissioner. However, a school district may contract with one
 or more licensed drivers' schools to provide behind the wheel  training,
 pursuant to regulations promulgated by the commissioner. The commission-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11562-01-3
              

 S. 7234                             2
 
 er  shall  prescribe  the  requirements  for licensing of such minors. A
 student enrolled in such an approved driver education course may operate
 a motor vehicle without holding a driver's license or a learner's permit
 while under the immediate supervision of an instructor in such course or
 a driver's school instructor providing behind the wheel training in such
 a course, provided such operation is in accordance with the rules estab-
 lished  by  the  commissioner.  Every student who successfully completes
 such course in a day, evening or summer  school  program  offered  by  a
 public  or private school shall receive certification of such completion
 on a certificate prescribed by the commissioner.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.