The bill would make it tougher for a youngster to get a permit or license and require parents to spend more time teaching their kids how to drive. It now goes to Gov. John Engler.
But it could raise costs to families if their local school drops driver's education - now a requirement - forcing them to pay for private driving lessons.
With all Democrats and a few Republicans objecting to the funding provision, the bill fell one vote short of the 20 required for passage.
Then Sen. Philip Hoffman (R-Horton) switched his "no" vote to "yes," and it passed, 20-17. All in favor of it were Republicans; all Democrats voted against it except Sen. Virgil Smith (D-Detroit) who was absent. Also opposed were GOP Sens. Jon Cisky of Saginaw and Walter North of St. Ignace.
"The passage of this bill is about one very important thing: preventing useless tragedies that come as a result of inexperience behind the wheel," said Sen. Doug Carl (R-Mount Clemens) and chair of the Senate Transportation and Tourism Committee.
"This legislation will hopefully reduce the number of inexperienced drivers that are on the road and thereby make things safer for all of us," said Gary Mitchell, spokesperson for the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents.
Hoffman said he changed his vote after talking to the bill's sponsor and being assured driver's education would still be available.
Democrats criticized the measure.
"Public safety takes a back seat with this legislation, and Michigan families face another financial burden," said Sen. Dianne Byrum (D-Lansing).
"There will be a rush of school districts to drop driver's education."
Under the bill, public schools no longer would have to offer drivers' training classes as of April 1988. The bill also would require schools that continue offering the classes to match state dollars and allows public schools to charge parents for any class costs over that total.
If a district discontinues its program, it must give parents "certificates" - worth about $75 - to use toward the cost with a private instructor. The financing changes would begin in April 1998.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Dan Gustafson (R-Williamston), will take effect in April 1997.
It would replace the current requirement of 22 hours of class instruction and four hours on the road with a three-step scheme allowing more freedom to drive as new criteria and time requirements are met. The graduated system would begin when teens are 14 years, 9 months old.
Youths would not get a full-blown driver's license allowing them to drive on their own at all times until they were at least 17, had held lower-level driving permits for two years and had gone 12 months without a moving violation or accident.
The "level two" permit level for those 16 years old and up, for example, would ban them from driving between midnight and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The bill also would require at least 50 hours of practice on the road with a parent or guardian and restores a required road test in Michigan.