ALBANY — A bill that passed the Senate this week would require new drivers and those taking driver safety courses to receive instruction on how to act when stopped by a police officer.

The law, sponsored by Sen. Roxanne J. Persaud and Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon, Democrats from Brooklyn, would go into effect one year after passage, granting the Department of Motor Vehicles sufficient time to develop a new curriculum with input from civil liberty organizations and law enforcement.

Persaud said the intent of the bill is to mitigate dangers during traffic stops while making these police interactions smoother and more efficient.

"While this bill does not address the continuing issue of certain police tactics in communities of color, it seeks to tackle one aspect of the overall problem," Persaud said Tuesday when it passed the Senate. "When motorists follow those instructions, it puts the onus of a positive, safe traffic stop on the law enforcement officer, whom will be relied upon to uphold a smooth and calm interaction."

The mandatory instruction concerning traffic stops must be included in pre-licensing "five-hour" courses and defensive driving classes, according to the bill. Instructors would be required to incorporate at least one question on the subject in their exams.

Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said the Albany Police Department hosts similar training sessions, in conjunction with the Autism society, for drivers on the autism spectrum who may react poorly to flashing lights or loud noises.

"If it's going to tell people how to interact with police properly and prevent something horrific from happening, I can't oppose it, but I always tell people to use common sense," Apple said of Persaud's bill.

A spokesman for the State Police said the legislation will be "reviewed" but declined further comment.

The legislation, first introduced in 2017, must pass the Assembly and be signed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to become law.