OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
S.B. 218 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for S.B. 218’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Introduced
Primary Sponsor: Sen. Schaffer
Effective date:
Margaret E. Marcy, Attorney
SUMMARY
 Authorizes an eligible adult to act in lieu of a licensed driver training instructor while
using an authorized electronic device or application for the required eight hours of
behind-the-wheel instruction that is a part of a beginner driver training course.
 Establishes requirements for use of the electronic device or application as part of the
instruction.
 Authorizes the eligible adult to use the electronic device or application for supervising
the 50 hours of driving experience required for a minor to obtain a driver’s license.
 Requires the Director of Public Safety to adopt rules establishing any procedures and
requirements necessary to implement the bill’s authorization for use of the electronic
device or application.
 Exempts rules adopted from requirements governing the elimination of existing
regulatory restrictions.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Driving instruction devices and applications
The bill authorizes an eligible adult (e.g., a parent, guardian, custodian, or person 21 or
over who acts in loco parentis for a minor driver) to act in lieu of a licensed driver training
instructor for the eight hours of behind-the-wheel instruction that are required as part of a
student’s driver education course. The eligible adult may do so only if all of the following apply:
1. The eligible adult is assisted by an electronic device or application that is programmed
to offer mobile and in-vehicle instruction to the student driver.
2. The eligible adult is in the vehicle with the student driver during the active instruction
provided by the electronic device or application.
February 21, 2024
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
3. The student has completed the 24 hours of required classroom instruction.
4. The electronic device or application is programmed to comply with the Department of
Public Safety’s (DPS’s) driver training curriculum. Additionally, the Director of Public
Safety must first pre-approve the electronic device or application to be used in lieu of
the licensed driver training instructor. The Director is prohibited from unreasonably
withholding approval if the electronic device or application meets the necessary
requirements established by rule.1
In addition to using the electronic device or application for the eight hours of required
course instruction, an eligible adult also may use it to assist in supervising the 50 hours of actual
driving experience required of each minor driver before the driver is eligible for a probationary
driver’s license.2 Eligible adults using the electronic device or application as part of a student
driver’s education are exempt from the typical driver training instructor licensure
requirements.3
Regulatory restriction reduction requirement exemption
The bill requires the Director to adopt rules governing the use of the electronic devices
or applications. Additionally, it exempts those rules adopted by the Director from continuing
law requirements concerning reductions in regulatory restrictions.4 Currently, DPS must take
actions to reduce regulatory restrictions, including, by June 30, 2025, reducing the amount of
regulatory restrictions contained in an inventory created in 2019 in accordance with a statutory
schedule. A “regulatory restriction” is any part of an administrative rule that requires or
prohibits an action.
Without that exemption, DPS must do all of the following with respect to any regulatory
restrictions contained in rules adopted under the bill:
 Until June 30, 2025, and for so long as DPS fails to reach the reductions required under
the statutory schedule, remove two or more existing regulatory restrictions for each
new restriction adopted (referred to as the “two-for-one rule”);
 Refrain from adopting a regulatory restriction when doing so would negate a previous
reduction;
 Beginning July 1, 2025, refrain from adopting a regulatory restriction when doing so
would cause the total number of regulatory restrictions in effect to exceed a statewide
cap calculated by the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review.5
1 R.C. 4508.041(A) and (B); R.C. 4507.21, not in the bill.
2 R.C. 4508.041(C).
3 R.C. 4508.041(E).
4 R.C. 4508.041(D).
5 R.C. 4508.041, by reference to R.C. 121.95 to 121.953.
P a g e |2 S.B. 218
As Introduced
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 01-24-24
ANSB0218IN-135/ks
P a g e |3 S.B. 218
As Introduced