(a) Notwithstanding Section 11102.5, a driving school operator who is first licensed to operate a driving school on or after July 1, 2016, and who offers no behind-the-wheel driver training, shall meet all of the following requirements:

(1) Within three attempts, pass an examination that the department requires on traffic laws, safe driving practices, operation of motor vehicles, teaching methods and techniques, driving school statutes and regulations, and office procedures and recordkeeping.

(2) Pay the department a fee for each examination taken, not to exceed the reasonable cost of administering the examination.

(3) Be 21 years of age or older.

(4) Have successfully completed an educational program of not less than 60 hours that is acceptable to the department. The program shall include a minimum of 40 hours of classroom instruction and 20 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. The program shall include, but not be limited to, driving school operator responsibilities, current vehicle laws, and regulations in Article 4.6 of Chapter 1 of Division 1 of Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations. The instruction may be provided by generally accredited educational institutions, private vocational schools, and education programs and seminars offered by professional societies, organizations, trade associations, and other educational and technical programs that meet the requirements of this section.

(b) The qualifying requirements referred to in this section shall be met within one year from the date of application for a license, or a new application, examination, and a fee for the examination not to exceed the reasonable cost of administering the examination shall be required.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 300. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.)