By Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice
OKLAHOMA CITY — Teen drivers could be required to meet certain literacy requirements under two bills proposed by Oklahoma lawmakers.
House Bill 4153 and Senate Bill 1538 would each require minors to meet eighth grade literacy standards and require Service Oklahoma to withdraw driving privileges if the child drops out of school.
The measures carve out exceptions for children on individualized education programs, or IEPs, for reading and those who work at least 24 hours per week.
The lawmakers authoring these bills have both said the goal is to incentivize students to improve literacy.
Neither Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, nor Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, were available to answer questions about their bills Wednesday, including whether the measures could affect youth who are learning English as a second language or why they now want to reinstate a requirement that was eliminated several years ago.
Current exam requirements for drivers under 18 include a 20-question written test, an eye exam and an Oklahoma Workzone Safe Course, according to Service Oklahoma, the state agency that is responsible for overseeing the issuance of driver’s licenses and identification cards.
Under both bills, youth would need to either pass a statewide reading assessment or an approved alternative test to prove they meet literacy standards before they can be licensed to drive, according to the bills.
Pugh’s measure passed through the Senate Aeronautics and Transportation Committee with an 11-1 vote. Hasenbeck’s bill unanimously advanced from the House Public Safety committee on Wednesday.
Sen. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa, was the only lawmaker to vote against the measure in committee. She said Wednesday that she couldn’t comment because she needed to refamiliarize herself with the bill.
While presenting his bill, Pugh said it would reinstate a preexisting literacy requirement. The requirement was previously removed due to the COVID-19 pandemic when state standards for reading sufficiency were being rewritten, he said.
“The aim is literacy,” he said at the meeting. “This is certainly a carrot.”
He also said many teachers have requested this be reinstated because of the “effectiveness of this carrot.”
If a minor is employed more than 24 hours a week, they’re eligible to apply for an exemption to continue being able to drive to work, Pugh said during committee.
Hasenbeck said the measure will encourage better literacy outcomes.
“By tying reading proficiency to driver eligibility, we’re encouraging students to strengthen essential literacy skills that will help them throughout life while also promoting safer roads for all Oklahomans,” she said in a statement after Wednesday’s vote.
Both Hasenbeck and Pugh are running for the Republican nomination for state superintendent.
