(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated in the omnibus transportation appropriations act for this specific purpose, the department must establish a program to expand education opportunities for driver training school instructors, specifically certification training programs.

(2) As part of the program, the department must:

(a) Implement a comprehensive traffic safety education program to train driver training school instructors;

(b) Establish mentorship programs and offer specialized grant programs or financial incentives to encourage diversity within the driver training school industry;

(c) Collaborate with the office of the superintendent of public instruction to align instructor requirements under the department and office of the superintendent of public instruction rules to streamline the process of obtaining a driver training school instructor certification; and

(d) Facilitate partnerships between private driver training schools and high schools, vocational-technical schools, colleges, or universities to enable private driver training school instructors to teach driver training education courses in school facilities. Such courses are not eligible for school credit.

(3) The department must submit an annual report to the appropriate committees of the legislature every July 1st, beginning July 1, 2026, detailing program activities. The report due July 1, 2030, must also provide a programmatic and funding needs assessment and any recommendations to support the program.

Findings—Intent—2025 c 299: See note following RCW 46.20.1191.