Motorcycle Rules and Regulations for ALMOST Organizations
revised 03/08/2010

A.     STATUTORY BASIS AND PURPOSE
(1) Motorcycle Third Party Testing Intent 
The rules contained herein are intended to provide operating and procedural instructions to third party organizations for the administration of the two-wheel and three-wheel motorcycle skills tests to candidates for the addition of the motorcycle operators M or 3 endorsements to a valid Colorado driver's license.
(2) Need for Rules
To facilitate the extension of departmental services through third party testing organizations as provided for by CRS 42-2-111(b)
(3) Authority to Make Rules
(a) CRS: 42-1-204: Uniform rules and regulations. The executive director of the department has the power to make uniform rules and regulations not inconsistent with articles 1 to 4 of this title and to enforce the same.
(b) CRS: 42-2-111(b):   The department, in issuing the driver license for certain types of general classes of vehicles, may waive any examination required by paragraph (a) of this subsection (1) for applicants and may certify certain employers, governmental agencies, or other appropriate organizations to train and examine all applicants for such certain types or general classes of licenses, if such training and examination is equal to the training and examination of the department.

B.  DEFINITIONS AS USED IN THESE RULES
(1) Motorcycle: CRS 42-1-102(55), defines a motorcycle as a motor vehicle that is designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground.
(a) Motor Vehicle - See: CRS 42-1-102(58) defines a self-propelled vehicle that is primarily designed to travel on the public highways. 
(2) Alternate Motorcycle Operator Skills Test (ALMOST): The motorcycle driving skill test given to applicants operating a motorcycle provided by the applicant, over a set course, where their performances are observed and recorded by a trained examiner.  
(3)	Alternate Motorcycle Operator Skills Testing Organization (ALMOST Organization): A third party testing organization who has received certification from DECS to conduct ALMOST or an organization that has received successful completion of any Department approved 3-wheel tester training.
(4)	ALMOST Certification: A certification to a Motorcycle School or Commercial Driving School, allowing an ALMOST organization to conduct Third Party Testing to applicants for a motorcycle endorsement.
(5)	Alternate Motorcycle Operator Skills Tester (ALMOST Tester): An individual employed by an ALMOST Organization that has been certified by DECS to administer the ALMOST.
(6)	Alternate Motorcycle Skills Testing Course (ALMOST Course): a course painted and measured according to motorcycle safety foundation standards and pre-approved for testing by DECS.
(7)	DECS: (the Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles) Driver Education Compliance Section.
(8)	Department: Means the Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles, Driver License Administration.

C.  CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AS A MOTORCYCLE SKILL TESTING ORGANIZATION   
(1) Enter into a contract with the Department
(2) The third party motorcycle skill testing organization and tester must receive certification from DECS to conduct motorcycle skill testing and to issue documents of testing completion. 
(3)  Renewal applications shall be made every year and shall run from January 1st to December 31st.  All licenses expire at the end of the year and no organization is permitted to operate with an expired license.  Renewal packets are due on December 1st of each year.  Packets not received and approved by December 31st will cause the organization to be placed in “non-renewed” status, meaning all documents dated after December 31st will be denied by the Department.  Packets that are incomplete will be returned to the school. Any school not renewed and approved prior to December 31st will need to resubmit all documentation as if a new school.
(4) All Organizations must notify DECS in writing within 3 business days of any changes in employee status, cessation of business, or change in ownership.  All Organizations must notify DECS in writing within 10 business days of losing or gaining a test site.  A “use agreement” for the site must be in file before a new test site will be approved.
(5)  Testing must be consistent with the motorcycle safety foundation’s ALMOST class or the training provided by a State adopted program(s) and using only score forms provided by the state or its adopted programs.
(a) There is no fee required for the two-wheel motorcycle skill tester training or certification.
(b) The organization will receive its certification and assigned testing number when their first tester receives his/her certification and tester’s number. 
(6) Organizations seeking training for individual testers and subsequent certification by the department in the testing of three-wheel motorcycles, must do so at the expense of the organization through a department approved training program.
(a) Upon presentation of successful completion of the department approved three-wheel motorcycle tester training program, qualified testers will be assigned a tester number to be used for the processing of three-wheel motorcycle skill testing documents.
(b) There is no fee required, by the state, for the three-wheel motorcycle skill tester certification number.
(7)	Individual tester certification numbers are to be used solely by the employee to whom the number is assigned.  Unauthorized use of certification numbers may result in the revocation of the certification for that individual.  
(8)	The testing organization shall provide DECS with a signed “use agreement” allowing the tester to paint the course and conduct tests on the property where each course is to be maintained.
(9)	 All employees of an ALMOST organization must have a CBI (name and DOB verification) background check and an original signature in blue ink on file with DECS.  All ALMOST organizations will submit a CBI background check less than 2 years old and an updated signature card with each renewal packet.
(10)	Any ALMOST Organization must maintain a Worker’s Compensation Insurance package as required by Colorado State Statute, and Employer’s Liability Insurance, covering all of the organization’s employees acting within the course and scope of their employment.  Proof of this insurance must be on file with DECS at all times.  Failure to supply current insurance to the Department within 30 days of expiration or change, could cause the company testing/certificate signing to be suspended until current insurance is supplied.
(11)	  Any ALMOST Organization must maintain a Commercial General Liability Insurance policy written on an ISO occurrence form CG 00 01 10/93 or equivalent, covering premises operations, property damage, independent contractors, blanket contractual liability, personal injury and advertising liability with minimum limits as follows:
(a)	1,000,000 each occurrence
(b)	1,000,000 general aggregate
(c)	1,000,000 premises operation

D.  ALMOST COURSE REQUIREMENTS
(1)  The third party motorcycle skill testing organization is responsible for ensuring that their testing area meets departmental requirements for motorcycle skill testing.
(2)  Only courses certified by the State, prior to any testing, may be used as a test course for the ALMOST program.
(3)   3-Wheel courses must be certified by the Department approved organization(s) prior to testing a 3-wheel motorcycle.
(4)   Any third party motorcycle skill testing site must be an approved testing site with a safe surface free from defects which is not wet, icy or has snow on it.  
(5)	Courses that measure over 1/2 of an inch “out of standards” will be de-certified until corrected.

E.  THIRD PARTY MOTORCYCLE SKILL TESTING ORGANIZATION
(1) The third party motorcycle skill testing organization is responsible for ensuring that their tester administers the motorcycle skill test to the same standard as they were trained by either the department or through a department approved program.
(2) The organization will allow the department to conduct random inspections and audits of the organization’s motorcycle operators testing records, procedures, and measure the ALMOST course to ensure that it meets department approved standards. 
(3) Third party testers are allowed to administer the motorcycle skill test to operators of two-wheel and three-wheel motorcycles, with appropriate certification.
(a) The department will provide the skill test only to operators of two-wheel motorcycles and only at certain driver’s license office locations.
(4) The third party motorcycle skill testing organization may establish a fee for administering the motorcycle skill test.
(5) Prior to administering the ALMOST the third party motorcycle testing organization must ensure the individual holds a valid Colorado motorcycle instruction permit.  
(6) Only the organization’s certified motorcycle skill testers are allowed to administer the motorcycle skill test on behalf of the organization.
(7)	Third party motorcycle skill testing must be done during daylight hours or at approved motorcycle testing sites where there is sufficient illumination to administer and perform the test as if there was daylight.
(8) The organization may refuse to test any motorcycle skill applicant. Applicants for the motorcycle skill test who are refused will be referred to the driver's license offices or, in the case of a three-wheel motorcycle, to another approved testing organization.
	 
F.  RECORDS AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
(1)	All Organizations are required to report all activity for each month using the required DECS forms.  These reports must be received by the 10th of the month for the previous month by fax or email regardless of whether any testing was done that month.  Failure to send the report by the 10th of the month for the previous month will result in suspension for 30 days for the first offense: additional offenses could result in de-certification for one year.
(2)	All voided documents (DR2439 and DR2713) will be logged on their respective monthly reports with the voided document filed in numeric order.
(3)	Records and documents will be filed and maintained in a central location. Testing score sheets and the organization’s copy of the testing completion statement for those individuals who passed or failed the motorcycle skill test, are to be retained by the organization for three years.
(4)	All ALMOST Organizations shall notify DECS in writing within (3) three business days of a termination of an organization’s employee. 
(5)	All passed and failed written examinations shall be logged on the required “Monthly Report” for General Motorcycle/3-Wheel Motorcycle Written Knowledge Testing Completion Statement (DR2439) and each written examination will be stapled with the DR2439 (if passed) and filed with the monthly report in numeric order.  All failed tests should be filed by month behind the passed tests. Form DR2439 shall be complete and without any alterations, scratched out information, or information that has been written over on the document.
(6)	All passed and failed ALMOST tests shall be logged on the required “Monthly Report” for ALMOST/3-Wheel Motorcycle Skills Test Completion Statement (DR2713) and each DR2610 (score sheet) will be stapled with the DR2713 (if passed) and filed with the monthly report in numeric order.  All failed tests should be filed by month behind the passed tests. Form DR2713 shall be complete and without any alterations, scratched out information, or information that has been written over on the document.

G.  THIRD PARTY MOTORCYCLE SKILL TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR TESTERS
(1)   It is the tester's responsibility to have the testing forms and equipment necessary to prepare the area for testing and to conduct the motorcycle skill test.
(2)  ALMOST testing may only be administered on a test area that has been approved by the department.
(3)   A tester must follow the department’s requirements for administering and grading the motorcycle skill test.
(4)   A tester is only allowed to test for the organization under which he or she is certified.
(5)  A tester is not permitted to allow another individual to use the motorcycle skill tester’s number for processing documents.
(6) The tester is responsible for ensuring that the testing score sheet and completion statement are completed correctly and testing records are accurate. 
(7)  Prior to administering the ALMOST, the tester shall complete the information section of the DR2610 (score sheet) and make sure to sign the score form.
(8)  Individuals who successfully pass the motorcycle skill test will be given a DR2713 (testing completion statement).  This form must be complete and contain accurate information in the required fields.
(9) Those applicants who fail the motorcycle skill test will have this failure noted on their driving skill testing score sheet form (DR2610). A copy of the DR2610 must be received by fax to DECS within twenty-four business hours. The organization will retain the applicant’s original DR2610 with the monthly report.
(10) If an applicant fails the skills test, they must return on a different day to re-test.  An applicant may only take 2 written permit tests per day.
(11) Applicants who fail the motorcycle skill test four times must be referred to the department by the testing organization to arrange for the fifth motorcycle skill test. Only the department may administer any further motorcycle skill tests. 
(12)	 The tester may administer an ALMOST or 3-Wheel motorcycle test only as an employee of, and on behalf of, the certified ALMOST Organization. The tester may administer the test for more than one employer; however, the tester must be certified under each employer to conduct the testing on his/her behalf. The tester must keep all testing records separate for each testing organization.  
(13)	 The tester shall issue a DR2713 completion statement for the applicant that has successfully completed the driving skills test. The DR2713 shall be complete and without any alterations, scratched out information, or information that has been written over.
(14)	 Testers shall possess a valid Colorado Driver’s License and be 21 years of age.
(15)	 The tester shall ensure that the applicant has in his/her possession a current Colorado Motorcycle or 3-wheel Instruction permit.
(16)	 The tester shall not conduct any training with the applicant during any portion of the test administration. To maintain the ALMOST certification each tester must conduct 7 motorcycle tests per year.  Failure to complete the designated requirements in the time period will result in the tester’s suspension unless a hardship can be established.
(17)	 Testers must have a CBI (name and DOB verification) background check on file prior to certification.  Background checks may not be more than two years old.
(18)	 No tester may administer the Skills or Written test to an immediate relative.  The definition of an immediate relative is provided in 42-1-102 (43.5) CRS - Definitions.

H. DECERTIFICATION OR SUSPENSION OF THIRD PARTY MOTORCYCLE TESTING ORGANIZATIONS OR TESTERS
(1) The certificate of a motorcycle third party testing organization or examiner may be suspended or revoked for willful or negligent actions which may include any of the following but is not limited to:
(a) Misrepresentation on the application to be a motorcycle third party testing organization or testing examiner.
(b) Improper testing and certification of applicants who are applying for the motorcycle endorsement.
(c) Falsifying of testing documents or results.
(d) Violations of the provision of the rules related to third party testing organizations and testers.
(e) Willful action to avoid or the refusal to cooperate in a compliance audit and record review.

I.  DECERTIFICATION OR SUSPENSION PROCESS FOR THIRD PARTY MOTORCYCLE SKILL TESTING ORGANIZATIONS OR SKILL TESTERS
(1) Summary Suspension:
As provided by CRS 24-4-104(3) the department may issue an immediate “Cease Testing Notice” for cause if, in the judgment of the department, the motorcycle skill testing organization or its skill tester has violated the provisions for state authorized motorcycle skill testing and continued testing operations will cause substantial danger to public health and safety. Further motorcycle skill testing is not allowed by that organization or the skill tester until the problem has been corrected to the satisfaction of the department or a hearing has been conducted by the Department of Revenue. A notification will be sent by the Driver's License Administration Section to the testing organization following the issuance of any cease testing notice stating the reason for the order. 
(2) Appeal:
Organizations and/or Testers may file an appeal for a “cease testing notice” by submitting a written request to DECS. 
(3) Hearing on Decertification or Suspension:
Hearing requests to appeal decertification or suspension as an authorized tester will be made by the organization or the skill tester through DECS. DECS will schedule the hearing with the Department of Revenue as provided under CRS 24-4-105 - Hearings and Determinations. 

All publications and rules adopted and incorporated by reference in these regulations are on file and available for public inspection by contacting the Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division, Drivers License Section, 1881 Pierce Street, room 136, Lakewood, CO. 80215. This rule does not include later amendments to or additions of any materials incorporated by reference.
Materials incorporated by reference may be examined at any state publication depository library.