The bill amends Section 31-10-19 of the General Laws in Rhode Island to enhance driver education and traffic safety education, particularly for applicants under twenty-one years of age. It mandates that the Community College of Rhode Island provide thirty-three hours of classroom instruction, with eight hours dedicated to the effects of alcohol and drugs on driving, delivered by certified teachers approved by the state board of education. A significant addition is the introduction of a fee waiver for individuals in foster care, allowing them to access driver's education classes at no cost. The bill also establishes a separate driver education program for special needs students and includes training for physically handicapped drivers, while emphasizing the importance of educating parents and guardians about the curriculum and licensing requirements.

Additionally, the bill incorporates new legal language that ensures all driver education programs cover the dangers of distracted driving and marijuana-impaired driving, and mandates that information on the Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act be included in the curriculum. It maintains the requirement for a tuition or enrollment fee for eligible applicants, which will be deposited into a restricted receipt account to support the driver education program. The effective date for the curriculum related to marijuana-impaired driving is contingent upon approval from the state board of education, and the provisions of this act will take effect upon passage.