Minnesota Legislature
2020 Second Special Session
Online driver knowledge tests could help cut licensing backlog
A new law aims to erase a backlog of Minnesota drivers seeking to take driver’s license tests.
The Department of Public Safety’s Driver and Vehicle Services Division must implement online driver’s license knowledge testing, under the law sponsored by Rep. Connie Bernardy (DFL-New Brighton) and Sen. Karin Housley (R-St. Marys Point). This section takes effect the earlier of Nov. 1, 2020 or the date that required changes are implemented.
Division-licensed driver education programs, and other entities authorized by the department, will be given access to the web-based knowledge testing system. A fee for administering the tests is capped at $10.
Supporters say allowing knowledge tests to be conducted online from deputy registrar offices, high schools, libraries and other authorized locations will enable the division to more quickly reduce the long wait times to take the driver’s license road test.
A report is due the Legislature by Jan. 1, 2021, including “a summary of the plan or plans implemented to address the class D and CDL road test backlogs during 2020 and a discussion on whether those plans were implemented, including whether any benchmarks or goals were achieved on time.”
The law also requires the Department of Public Safety to submit a report to the Legislature by Jan. 1, 2022 detailing the following:
• the number of online knowledge tests conducted;
• the number of locations providing online knowledge tests;
• a recommendation on whether the $10 fee cap should be changed;
• recommendations on whether additional entities should be authorized to administer the web-based test;
• recommendations on whether driver education programs should be allowed to administer tests to individuals other than students of the program; and
• recommended legislative changes related to online knowledge testing.
The law also aims to eliminate locked-in testing times. Effective July 24, 2020, the department cannot “schedule or reserve recurring time with a public, private, or commercial driver education program for purposes of administering skills or road tests to a class D or commercial driver's license applicant.”
HF26/SF4*/CH2