(1) Beginning January 1, 2027, and subject to the availability of funds appropriated in the omnibus transportation appropriations act for this specific purpose, the department must establish a program to provide vouchers for individuals at least 15 years of age but under 25 years of age to cover up to the average cost of driver training education courses for drivers who reside in low-income households, with the goal of assisting as many people as possible with the greatest need, measured both by income and mobility needs otherwise unserved, to access driver training education. A voucher may be applied to the cost of a course offered by a school district or an approved private school under chapter
28A.220 RCW, the cost of a course offered by a driver training school under this chapter, the cost of a driver training education refresher course, the cost of a safe driving course if required under RCW
46.20.1191(9), or the cost of a condensed traffic safety education course. A voucher may not be provided more than once for any of the eligible courses under this subsection.
(2) In consultation with the Washington traffic safety commission, the department shall adopt rules establishing eligibility criteria and application and award procedures, and any other necessary rules, for implementing this section.
(3) An applicant who has previously received financial support to complete a driver training program under RCW
74.13.338(2)(b) or
49.04.290 is deemed ineligible for a voucher under this section.
(4) Driver training education course costs or fees may not be inflated to offset any voucher amounts provided by applicants. The department may evaluate such course pricing to determine if costs or fees have been inflated for this purpose.
(5) By December 1, 2025, the department, in consultation with the Washington traffic safety commission and the department of social and health services, shall provide to the appropriate committees of the legislature a policy framework and guidelines for the voucher program, to include the following considerations:
(a) Targeted demographics, including individuals or families who are cost burdened or eligible to receive funds under economic and community services programs;
(b) Consideration of the need for a vehicle by geography, taking into account mobility needs and other mobility options available in a community;
(c) An approach to reach young adults over the age of 18, especially for those enrolled in community or technical colleges; and
(d) Recommended voucher funding levels for projected or anticipated eligible individuals.
(6) Beginning January 1, 2028, the department shall annually report to the transportation committees of the legislature the following:
(a) The income criteria used to determine voucher awards for driver training education courses;
(b) The number of applicants for driver training education vouchers annually by county;
(c) The number of vouchers awarded annually by county;
(d) The number of vouchers redeemed annually by county;
(e) The dollar amount of vouchers redeemed annually by county;
(f) The community average income of voucher recipients during the reporting period; and
(g) The number of eligible applicants who did not receive or could not use a voucher.
(7) This section does not create an entitlement to receive voucher program funds.
