Bill Would Lower Mandatory School Attendance Age To Drive
A bill worked on jointly by Tuscaloosa/Pickens County State Representative Ron Bolton and the Alabama Superintendents Association would lower the age requirement for mandatory school attendance to hold a driver's license from 19 to 17.
Bolton and the association believe the current age is detrimental to older teens attempting to enter the work force.
Alabama Code § 16‑28‑40 requires anyone under age 19 applying for a driver’s license or learner’s permit to provide proof of:
- Enrollment in school and making satisfactory progress,
- Enrollment in a GED or nontraditional diploma program,
- Participation in an approved job‑training program,
- Being gainfully employed,
- Being a parent with custody,
- A physician certifying the teen is the family’s sole transportation,
- Qualifying for an exemption due to circumstances beyond their control.
The Republican lawmaker filed a bill during this year's session attempting to amend the code, but it failed to pass. Bolton stated, "HB33 was intended to lower the required age for mandatory school attendance from 19 years of age back to 17 for the purposes of possessing a driver's permit or license.
"My purpose with the bill was to prevent students who leave high school to go to work from losing driving privileges. Thereby keeping them from potentially having unnecessary contact with the courts to deal with fines due to license suspensions."
Rep. Bolton will re-file the bill for the coming legislative session next year.
The code was originally enacted in 1999 as part of the “driver’s license/ school attendance” law created by Legislative Act 1999‑441.
According to the code, the law also requires school attendance officials to provide documentation of enrollment status and disciplinary points for students 15+ applying for or renewing a license. If a student 16+ withdraws from school (defined as more than 10 consecutive or 15 total unexcused absences in a semester), the school must notify the state, which can trigger license denial or revocation.
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