NY State Senate Bill 2025-S6241

Senate Bill S6241

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Relates to the length of the pre-licensing course required of applicants for a driver's license

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Mar 07, 2025	referred to transportation

2025-S6241 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A753
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §502, V & T L

2025-S6241 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Provides that the course consisting of classroom driver training and highway safety instruction that is required of driver's license applicants shall be not more than six hours instead of five.

2025-S6241 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S6241

SPONSOR: LIU
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the length
of the pre-licensing course required of applicants for a driver's
license

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This legislation would increase the maximum duration an approved pre-li-
censing course can run from five hours to six hours.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 increases the maximum duration an approved pre-licensing
course can run from five hours to six hours.

Section 2 provides the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

Whether it be through the substitution of traditional stop-controlled
intersections by roundabouts and traffic-circles, or the introduction of
new technologies on our roadways, communities throughout New York have
taken proactive steps to increase traffic safety, curb congestion, and
make the air cleaner. As communities progress in enacting new traffic
safety measures, it is critical that individuals who are seeking to
become licensed drivers in New York understand not only the rules and
procedures that are well-established, but the new technologies, inter-
sections, and laws that aren't as notable.

This legislation aims to ensure that new drivers are safe drivers by
granting pre-licensing course instructors the option to extend their
pre- licensing course to six hours in length, an hour beyond the current
statutory limit of five hours. The flexibility that would be afforded by
a six-hour window would enable instructors to incorporate emerging
topics and updated regulations into their course which drivers need only
take once for a lifetime license.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

2025-S6241 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6241
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 7, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  LIU  --  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  the  length
   of  the  pre-licensing  course  required  of applicants for a driver's
   license

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Subparagraph  (i)  of  paragraph  (a) of subdivision 4 of
 section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 379 of
 the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows:
   (i) Upon submission of an application  for  a  driver's  license,  the
 applicant  shall be required to take and pass a test, or submit evidence
 of passage of a test, with respect to the laws relating to traffic,  the
 laws  relating to driving while ability is impaired and while intoxicat-
 ed, under the overpowering influence of "Road Rage", "Work Zone  Safety"
 awareness,  "Motorcycle  Safety" awareness and "Pedestrian and Bicyclist
 Safety" awareness as defined by the commissioner,  "School  Bus  Safety"
 awareness,  the  law  relating to exercising due care to avoid colliding
 with a parked, stopped  or  standing  authorized  emergency  vehicle  or
 hazard  vehicle  pursuant to section eleven hundred forty-four-a of this
 chapter, the ability to read and comprehend traffic  signs  and  symbols
 and  such other matters as the commissioner may prescribe, and to satis-
 factorily complete a course prescribed by the commissioner of  not  less
 than four hours and not more than [five] SIX hours, consisting of class-
 room  driver  training  and highway safety instruction or the equivalent
 thereof. Such test  shall  include  at  least  seven  written  questions
 concerning the effects of consumption of alcohol or drugs on the ability
 of  a  person  to  operate  a  motor vehicle and the legal and financial
 consequences resulting from violations of section eleven  hundred  nine-
 ty-two  of  this  chapter,  prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle
 while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Such test  shall  include
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00857-01-5

 S. 6241                             2
 
 one  or  more  written  questions  concerning the devastating effects of
 "Road Rage" on the ability of a person to operate a  motor  vehicle  and
 the  legal and financial consequences resulting from assaulting, threat-
 ening  or  interfering with the lawful conduct of another person legally
 using the roadway.  Such  test  shall  include  one  or  more  questions
 concerning the potential dangers to persons and equipment resulting from
 the  unsafe  operation of a motor vehicle in a work zone.  Such test may
 include one or more questions concerning motorcycle  safety.  Such  test
 may  include one or more questions concerning the law for exercising due
 care to avoid colliding with  a  parked,  stopped  or  standing  vehicle
 pursuant  to  section  eleven hundred forty-four-a of this chapter. Such
 test may include one or more questions  concerning  school  bus  safety.
 Such  test  may  include one or more questions concerning pedestrian and
 bicyclist safety. Such test shall be administered by  the  commissioner.
 The  commissioner  shall cause the applicant to take a vision test and a
 test for color blindness. Upon passage of the vision test, the  applica-
 tion may be accepted and the application fee shall be payable.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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