HB 24-1021

House Bill 24-1021, which has been signed into law in Colorado, requires young drivers aged 15 to 18 to complete a 30-hour driver education course before they can get an instruction permit starting January 1, 2027. Those aged 18 and older have the option of taking this course or completing a shorter awareness program. Additionally, anyone under 21 must take a motorcycle safety course before getting a motorcycle permit. The law also sets rules for who can supervise young drivers while they are learning to drive and bans certain convicted individuals from teaching driving lessons to minors. This bill will go into effect on April 1, 2026.

Official Summary

The act changed the requirements to be issued an instruction permit by requiring, on or after January 1, 2027: Minors who are 15 years of age or older and under 18 years of age to complete a 30-hour driver education course, which may include an online course, approved by the department of revenue (department); and Minors who are 18 years of age and older to either complete a 30-hour driver education course, which may include an online course, approved by the department or a 4-hour prequalification driver awareness program approved by the department. The act requires a minor who is under 21 years of age to successfully complete an instruction program in motorcycle safety that is approved by the Colorado state patrol before being issued an instruction permit to drive a motorcycle. The act authorizes the following individuals who hold a valid Colorado driver's license to supervise a minor's driving under a permit: The minor's parent or stepparent; The minor's grandparent with power of attorney; An individual who is 21 years of age or older and who signed the affidavit of liability; The minor's foster parent who signed the affidavit of liability; An approved driver education instructor; An alternate permit supervisor who is 21 years of age or older and is appointed by the person who signed the affidavit of liability; and If the minor is a foster child, an individual authorized to supervise the foster child. The act authorizes the issuance of a temporary driver's license or temporary minor driver's license, which temporary license is valid for up to one year unless extended by the department of revenue and which immediately becomes invalid upon issuance of a permanent driver's license or upon refusal for good cause. The act prohibits a person who has been convicted of certain violent or sexual crimes from providing behind-the-wheel driving instruction to minors and at-risk adults. A commercial driving school is prohibited from employing such a driving instructor to provide behind-the-wheel driving instruction to minors and at-risk adults. Each instructor employed by a commercial driving school must obtain a fingerprint-based criminal history record check to verify that the instructor has not committed a disqualifying crime. APPROVED by Governor May 15, 2024 EFFECTIVE April 1, 2026(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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