As most of you know by now, I am sure; driver education came under study by the Fiscal Research Division of the General Assembly. Driver Education was not/is not included in the continuation budget for the 2010/2011 fiscal year. DOT was directed to write a report justifying the continuation of funding of driver education. When it was discovered that driver education was the responsibility of the Department of Public Instruction, DPI was directed to write the report. The Department of Public Instruction did complete the report and it was turned over to Fiscal Research on March 1. The report in essence said to leave driver education as it is currently configured as a program under the auspices of DPI with the funding coming from DOT and with each LEA determining if they want to contract the program or keep it in-house.
It is crucial at this point that every member of our organization contact their legislators and encourage them to support placing funding for driver education to be placed back into the continuation budget. This is not something that Gene Causby can do by himself, although he is hard at work on the issue and he feels that our funding will be restored. This will take a grassroots effort on our member’s part.
If you have any connections with Senators Tony Foriest and Richard Stevens, or Representatives Marian McLawhorn or Ray Rapp, it is essential that these legislators be contacted in addition to your local legislators.
Updates will be place on this website as they become available!
