Two students from Anderson take on state capitol

From left, Kimberly Nobles, Rep. Lois Kolkhorst and Reyann Lyde.

By Gail Sowell, Examiner Correspondent

Reyann Lyde, a junior at Anderson-Shiro High School and freshman Kimberly Nobles, got a bird's eye view of the legislative session going on through May of this year at the State Capitol in Austin. The two were invited by Grimes County Sheriff Don Sowell and District 13 State Representative Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham to attend a hearing committee where Lyde, as President of the Student Council, testified in favor of House Bill 2452 concerning driver's education.

Since the mid 1990's, students can either be home-schooled or attend a commercial driving school to receive their driver's license without taking the actual driving test given by DPS officers. Since then, teen wrecks have increased and law enforcement officers have brought their concerns to Kolkhorst.

Kolkhorst reports that "currently students can sign up for Home School Driving classes, take a written exam at the DPS office and obtain a driver's license without ever having proven their driving skills to a DPS officer." H.B. 2452 seeks to ensure that students of the home school driving class in Texas be observed by a qualified driving instructor. This bill requires that all home school applicants for a Texas driver's license pay a fee to take a "road test" with the DPS in order to receive a license to operate a vehicle.

Lyde told the committee "learning to drive needs to be taken seriously. Most of the students at my school who have taken the home course consider it to be a joke." She added that "many students only study the material the day of the test then take the written exam and receive their permit."

This is the whole point Kolkhorst is trying to get across to the committee members. She agrees that "it's just a joke to the kids" and is determined to stiffen the law to encourage parents and students to take the course more seriously.

There is a big difference in the two types of schools - pricewise, that is. A student can obtain a driver's license by being home-schooled for less than $100 where a commerical driving school charges around $300. Therefore, parents are taking on the obligation themselves - some seriously and some not so seriously.

Lyde testified that "most never actually complete the hours of driving needed to get their license." She recalls "I received my driver's education through the at-home course. I studied the curriculum, read the textbook and drove the required hours. It was extremely time consuming and required a lot of effort on my part but I knew how important it was and so did my mother who was my instructor."

After taking the course and realizing that not everyone has gone through the process properly, Lyde wonders when driving down the road "if the driver approaching me received the proper training. It makes me nervous to know that several did not."

Sheriff Don Sowell also testified in favor of the bill. Nobles chose not to testify but did sign an affidavit in support of the bill. After Lyde spoke, there were others who opposed the change, such as Patrick Barrett, President of "Driver Ed in a Box." Even though Barrett expressed his opposition, he did "agree with Miss Lyde that there are some flaws in the present procedure."

If House Bill 2452 passes, it will not take effect until January 1, 2004, and applies only to an application for a driver's license submitted on or after that date. A $10 fee will be assessed to take the driving test. This fee will fund the program and be used only by the DPS to administer this process.

Upon leaving the hearing room, the committee's Chief Clerk approached Lyde, as did others in the room, congratulating her on the fine job she did. This experience proved to be an excellent learning experience for both the teenagers who represented Grimes County well.

Lyde and Nobles were both appreciative to be able to see what all takes place during a legislative session.

At the end of the day, Nobles commented "I didn't know that passing a bill had to go through so many steps."

If H.B. 2452 makes it to the top and becomes the law, the two can be proud they were a part of the governmental procedures in making the roads just a little bit safer once again.