Louisiana § RS 32:402.3 - Motorcycle Safety, Awareness, and Operator Training Program; dedicated fund account

§ RS 32:402.3. Motorcycle Safety, Awareness, and Operator Training Program; dedicated fund account

            A. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall establish and operate a Motorcycle Safety, Awareness, and Operator Training Program, hereinafter referred to as the "program", on a statewide basis. The program shall consist of motorcycle operator training and campaigns to promote participation, motorcycle safety, and motorcycle awareness. For the purposes of this Section, the word "motorcycle" shall have the meaning as provided for in R.S. 32:401(18) and the word "deputy secretary" shall mean the deputy secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

            B. The purposes of the program shall be to:

            (1) Educate motorcycle operators in the safe operation of motorcycles.

            (2) Provide for the certification of motorcycle operator education and training instructors and the training of law enforcement personnel in the proper operation of motorcycles.

            (3) Develop campaigns to promote participation in the program, motorcycle safety, and motorcycle awareness.

            C. Participation in the program shall be voluntary for any person who meets the qualifications of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to apply for a motorcycle operator's endorsement. Those persons who satisfactorily complete the program shall receive a motorcycle operator's endorsement without the necessity of taking a written knowledge test or an operator's skill test.

            D. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall adopt rules and regulations in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 49:950 et seq. as are necessary and proper to provide for the conduct and operation of the program. Oversight review of the rules and regulations shall be conducted by the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works and the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works meeting jointly.

            E. The deputy secretary is hereby authorized to purchase for cash, or by lease/purchase agreement, all the necessary equipment, training aids, devices, and all related materials required to conduct and operate the program with funds appropriated for those purposes.

            F. The deputy secretary shall include the program as a line-item expenditure in his annual budget.

            G. The deputy secretary may levy and collect a per person charge of not more than twenty-five dollars to participate in the program; however, no such charge shall be applicable to any commissioned law enforcement officer within the state.

            H. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, the proprietor of the motorcycle training school shall not be required to provide a motorcycle or motorcycles to be used by students who are taking a test at the conclusion of the course.

            I. The Motorcycle Safety, Awareness, and Operator Training Program Account, provided for in R.S. 32:412(C)(2) shall continue to fund the operator training, instructor training, and motorcycle safety and awareness programs under the operation of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

            Acts 2009, No. 138, §1; Acts 2012, No. 348, §1; Acts 2018, No. 612, §10, eff. July 1, 2020; Acts 2019, No. 404, §1, eff. July 1, 2020.