MN HF404

School districts may pay driver education providers $300 per student qualifying for free lunch, $200 per student qualifying for reduced-price lunch, and $100 for other students, with providers able to charge students for remaining program costs.

Commissioner of education must reimburse school districts annually for total amounts paid to driver education providers in the previous fiscal year.

Driver education fees charged to students cannot exceed actual costs to the school and district, reduced by amounts the school pays on behalf of the student under this grant program.

Commissioners of education, public safety, and employment and economic development must establish a work group to study driver education availability, geographic access, barriers for low-income students, and potential permanent funding sources.

Work group must submit a written report to legislative committees by February 1, 2018, with recommendations to increase student access to driver education and a permanent funding mechanism for low-income students.