Update from Sherry Deane on 21 March 2008:

HB1112 successfully passed the House and the Senate with overwhelming support!!! We are hopeful that this is a good indication that there is great interest among our legislators to improve our law.

The bill was then placed before Governor Mitch Daniels for approval, and he signed the bill into law on March 3rd. This means a Summer Study Committee will be established to take a good look into learner's permits, driver’s education and graduated driver licenses for Indiana teens. The study will explore the minimum age at which learner's permits and probationary driver licenses can be issued, the requirements for practice driving before a probationary driver license can be issued, certain restriction for driving on a probationary license, and the use of hand-held devices by probationary drivers.

This committee will give our legislators a better opportunity to take a closer look at the issue and then provide recommendations for a bill next year. We are very hopeful we will have a great bill to introduce next year that will greatly improve our GDL system.