HF 987 Summary

• Driver education fees charged to students are capped at actual program costs minus any state payment received on behalf of the student, effective July 1, 2019.

• 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 any other student aged 15-19, with the commissioner of education reimbursing districts annually for these payments.

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

• The work group must submit a written report to legislative committees by February 1, 2020 describing current driver education status and recommending changes to increase access and establish permanent funding for low-income students.

• An unspecified appropriation from the general fund in fiscal year 2020 is allocated to the commissioner of education for work group activities.