Motorcycle safety program

§ 410-a. Motorcycle safety program. 1. The commissioner shall establish and administer a motorcycle safety program which shall consist of approved motorcycle rider training courses, motorcycle course instructor training, program promotion, and public awareness. Approved rider training courses shall meet nationally recognized standards for motorcycle rider training courses, or standards for motorcycle rider safety programs which are approved by the department and are comparable to the standards of the motorcycle safety foundation's motorcycle rider safety program. Approved courses shall include at least eight hours of instruction in the actual operation of a motorcycle. Monies from the motorcycle safety fund established pursuant to section ninety-two-g of the state finance law shall be used for the establishment and implementation of this program.

2. The commissioner shall issue a request for proposals for the coordination of a motorcycle safety program which shall set requirements for the preparation of bids. The commissioner shall enter into a contract, for a period of five years, with a motorcycle rider training coordinating organization selected pursuant to such process. The contract shall be awarded following the consideration of factors which shall include, but not be limited to, the most favorable financial advantage for the state, the greatest utility to the motorcyclist, the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of such organization and its compatibility with the existing rider education programs. The motorcycle rider training coordination organization shall be subject to periodic reporting requirements established by the department outlining the administration and effectiveness of its program and an itemization of all motorcycle safety fund allocations. Such motorcycle rider training coordinating organization shall have at least three years experience in the administration of a statewide motorcycle rider education program, and have as its administrator an individual who has no financial or proprietary interest in a motorcycle training school or facility.

3. The motorcycle rider training coordinating organization shall submit to the commissioner for approval requests for advances pursuant to a contract and reimbursements from the motorcycle safety fund for equipment, operating and administrative costs and other expenses necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. The commissioner shall approve all such requests for expenditures that are in accordance with the provisions of this section.

4. The commissioner shall annually file a report on expenditures from the motorcycle safety fund, established pursuant to section ninety-two-g of the state finance law, with the legislature. Such report shall include the name of the funded motorcycle rider training coordinating organization and the amount of funds distributed to it and shall provide an evaluation of the overall effectiveness of the funded programs and any recommendations for programmatic changes.