House Bill 5977 would create a specific exemption from Michigan’s teen driver training requirements for home-schooled students seeking a Level 1 or Level 2 graduated driver license. Instead of completing driver education through a provider regulated under the Driver Education Provider and Instructor Act, a home-schooled student could satisfy the requirement through a curriculum administered by a parent or legal guardian, so long as it meets minimum instructional and driving standards set by the Secretary of State.
The bill also establishes a certification process. After the parent or guardian completes the curriculum, they must submit a signed certificate on a Secretary of State form confirming completion and the required driving hours: at least 6 hours of on-the-road driving for a Level 1 license, or at least 50 hours of behind-the-wheel experience, including at least 10 nighttime hours for a Level 2 license unless an existing vehicle code exception applies. The Secretary of State must acknowledge receipt, decide within 10 business days whether to approve or reject the certificate, and identify curable defects if rejecting it. If the department misses the deadline or fails to provide proper defect notice, the certificate is deemed approved.
HB5977 would amend the Driver Education Provider and Instructor Act by adding a new section that creates an alternative compliance path for home-schooled students under the graduated driver licensing system. It would also affect the Michigan Vehicle Code’s driver education requirement by allowing parent- or guardian-administered instruction to substitute for teen driver training when the statutory conditions are met. The bill limits the Secretary of State’s ability to impose extra paperwork or procedures, requires retention of submitted certificates for at least three years, and grants immunity from civil liability and certain administrative penalties to parents or guardians who act in good faith and substantially comply with the section.
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded votes, so there is no direct evidence of debate or partisan division in the materials provided. On its face, the bill appears designed to accommodate home-school families by recognizing parent-led driver education while preserving state oversight through standardized certification and minimum training benchmarks. The structure of the bill suggests a generally supportive intent toward flexibility and administrative clarity, but the absence of discussion makes the overall sentiment difficult to gauge beyond that.
The main policy tension is between flexibility for home-schooled students and the state’s interest in ensuring consistent driver training standards. Supporters would likely favor the bill’s recognition of parent-led instruction, the short approval timeline, and the deemed-approved safeguard against bureaucratic delay. Potential concerns could come from those who prefer provider-based instruction, worry about the adequacy or consistency of home-administered driver education, or object to the automatic approval provision and the limits placed on the Secretary of State’s discretion. The bill also depends on enactment of House Bill 5978, which may be another point of legislative linkage or contention.