MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) would like to offer clarification
regarding Alabama’s driver license eligibility requirements for students subject to school disciplinary
actions.
Section 32-6-7.4, Code of Alabama 1975, which has been referred to as “Taylor’s Law,” was enacted by
the Alabama Legislature in 2009 as Act 2009-713 and has remained in effect since that time.
Recent public confusion appears to have resulted from House Bill 33 (2026 Regular Legislative Session),
which proposed reducing the age threshold associated with certain driver license eligibility provisions
from 19 years of age to 17 years of age. While the legislation was approved by the Alabama House of
Representatives, it was not passed by the Alabama Senate and therefore did not become law. Accordingly,
no amendments to Section 32-6-7.4 became effective on August 1, 2026, and the statutory requirements
currently administered by ALEA remain unchanged.
Pursuant to Taylor’s Law, Alabama public and private secondary schools assess disciplinary points for
specified disciplinary actions, including, but not limited to, in-school suspension, out-of-school
suspension, placement in an alternative school, and expulsion. The accumulation of these disciplinary
points may delay the age at which an eligible student may apply for a learner’s permit, driver license, or
other applicable operator credential, as prescribed by Alabama law.
Local education agencies, public and private schools are responsible for maintaining student disciplinary
records, assessing disciplinary points as required by law, and reporting applicable information through the
established process. ALEA’s Driver License Division receives the necessary eligibility information on an
applicant’s DL-193 form certified by the appropriate educational authorities and determines license
eligibility solely by applying the requirements established by Alabama Law. The DL-193 also confirms
the student’s compliance with act 93-368 that requires attendance or graduation standards be met before
an individual under the age of 19 may be issued a learner license or driver license.
ALEA does not establish school disciplinary policies, assign disciplinary points, or modify statutory
eligibility requirements. The Agency’s responsibility is to uniformly administer the licensing provisions
enacted by the Alabama Legislature. For additional information regarding Alabama’s driver license laws,
visit www.alea.gov.
Media Release/Captain Jeremy J. Burkett/Administrative Bureau Director/Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
