OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington state Senate has approved a bill to allow the Department of Licensing to contract out driver’s exams to private driving schools and local school districts.
The measure was originally proposed by Democratic Rep. Dave Upthegrove of Des Moines in an effort to cut wait times at DOL offices, where the administration of licensing exams is staff’s most time-consuming function.
Driving schools would be able to set their own price for the licensing exams. The DOL would still issue driver’s licenses, and would be authorized to randomly re-test drivers to hold the process accountable to department standards.
Democratic Sen. Scott White of Seattle called this an important step toward creating efficiency in state government.
The bill passed the Senate unanimously and returns to the House for approval of amendments.
