Senators debate bill repealing motorcycle safety course reimbursement

Motorcycle safety education providers would no longer receive state reimbursement under a bill debated on general file Jan. 24.

The Motorcycle Safety Education Fund currently receives $3 from the Highway Trust Fund for every motorcycle registered in the state and $3.50 from the Department of Motor Vehicles Cash Fund for each motorcycle operator’s license issued during the previous year. The fund is used to reimburse motorcycle safety course providers up to $75 for each student who successfully completes a course.

Under LB170, introduced by Valentine Sen. Deb Fischer, the Motorcycle Safety Education Fund would be dissolved Jan. 1, 2012, and its balance — expected to be approximately $790,000 — would be transferred to the Roads Operations Fund.

Fischer said the state reimbursement granted from the Motorcycle Safety Education Fund is inconsistent with driver education programs in the state and should be eliminated.

“There are no other driver training schools that receive any kind of state subsidy, because the state does not mandate these classes,” she said.

Elk Creek Sen. Lavon Heidemann offered an amendment, adopted on a 45-0 vote, to change the diversion of the Motorcycle Safety Education Fund. Under his amendment, 25 percent of the the fund’s monies would be transferred to the Department of Motor Vehicles Cash Fund and 75 percent would go to the Highway Trust Fund. He said this distribution would match the receiving funds’ contributions to the Motorcycle Safety Education Fund.

Kearney Sen. Galen Hadley said LB170, as amended, would still aid motorcyclists. Returning money to the Highway Trust Fund would increase their safety, he said, because motorcyclists are at greater risk of harm from faulty roads.

LB170 would eliminate the $5 fee for motorcycle safety instructors’ permits and chief instructors’ permits, and replace it with a $100 fee for certification of a motorcycle safety course.

The bill also would broaden the DMV’s regulatory authority over motorcycle safety courses and reduce the life of the driving test waiver granted to those who complete courses from 48 months to 12 months.

Schuyler Sen. Chris Langemeier offered an amendment to partially restore the duration of the testing waiver. Nebraska’s climate limits the number of months in a year that people can ride a motorcycle, he said, so those who complete motorcycle safety courses should be granted more than one year to obtain their class M license.

The Legislature adjourned before voting on Langemeier’s amendment or the bill’s advancement.