SB 95S – Liability of Foster Parents for Foster Children Driving on Learner’s Permit

The House and Senate have passed Senate Bill 95S unanimously. This bill provides that, during the initial 6 months of a Learner’s Permit, a foster parent is liable for the negligent driving of the foster child only up to the limits of the foster parent’s applicable insurance coverage.

This bill is understandable, as if you allow a foster child to drive your car, your insurance should cover them.

Purchasing coverage for a foster youth on a foster parent’s car insurance plan can be expensive, as average insurance rates to cover a teenager range between $3,600 to $4,000 a year (depending on the gender of the youth). Foster parents currently don’t receive money to cover that expense, and they should. A bill for next year, perhaps.

SENATE BILL 95S – LIABILITY OF FOSTER PARENTS FOR FOSTER CHILDREN ON LEARNER’S PERMIT	Currrent Status – Senate Passed 21-0. House Passed 39-0-2. Sent to the Governor.
House Sponsors – Heffernan, DorseyWalker, Johnson, Baumbach, Bush, Griffith, Minor-Brown, Williams // Briggs King, Smith	Senate Sponsors – McBride, Hansen, Hoffner, Huxtable // Pettyjohn
House Yes Votes – Baumbach Bolden Bush Carson Chukwuocha Cooke Dorsey-Walker Griffith Harris Johnson Lambert Longhurst Lynn Matthews Minor-Brown Morrison Neal Osienski Parker-Selby Phillips Romer Schwartzkopf Williams Wilson-Anton // Briggs King Collins Dukes Gray Hensley Hilovsky Morris Postles Ramone Short Shupe Smith Spiegelman Vanderwende Yearick	Senate Yes Votes – Brown Gay Hansen Hoffner Huxtable Lockman Mantzavinos McBride Paradee Pinkney Poore Sokola Sturgeon Townsend Walsh // Buckson Hocker Lawson Pettyjohn Richardon Wilson
House No Votes –	Senate No Votes –
House Absents or Not Voting – Heffernan, Moore	Senate Absent or Not Voting –