HF 3360

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/26/2024 03:56pm

A bill for an act
relating to driver education; expanding access to driver education programs for
low-income students; establishing a driver education work group; requiring a
report; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 123B.36,
subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 124D.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 123B.36, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

School boards may require fees.

(a) For purposes of this subdivision,
"home school" means a home school as defined in sections 120A.22 and 120A.24 with five
or fewer students receiving instruction.

(b) A school board is authorized to require payment of fees in the following areas:

(1) in any program where the resultant product, in excess of minimum requirements and
at the pupil's option, becomes the personal property of the pupil;

(2) admission fees or charges for extracurricular activities, where attendance is optional
and where the admission fees or charges a student must pay to attend or participate in an
extracurricular activity is the same for all students, regardless of whether the student is
enrolled in a public or a home school;

(3) a security deposit for the return of materials, supplies, or equipment;

(4) personal physical education and athletic equipment and apparel, although any pupil
may personally provide it if it meets reasonable requirements and standards relating to health
and safety established by the board;

(5) items of personal use or products that a student has an option to purchase such as
student publications, class rings, annuals, and graduation announcements;

(6) fees specifically permitted by any other statute, including but not limited to section
171.05, subdivision 2; provided (i) driver education fees do not exceed the actual cost to
the school and school district of providing driver education new text begin reduced by any amount received
on behalf of the student under section 124D.335 new text end , and (ii) the driver education courses are
open to enrollment to persons between the ages of 15 and 18 who reside or attend school
in the school district;

(7) field trips considered supplementary to a district educational program;

(8) any authorized voluntary student health and accident benefit plan;

(9) for the use of musical instruments owned or rented by the district, a reasonable rental
fee not to exceed either the rental cost to the district or the annual depreciation plus the
actual annual maintenance cost for each instrument;

(10) transportation of pupils to and from extracurricular activities conducted at locations
other than school, where attendance is optional;

(11) transportation to and from school of pupils living within two miles from school and
all other transportation services not required by law. If a district charges fees for
transportation of pupils, it must establish guidelines for that transportation to ensure that
no pupil is denied transportation solely because of inability to pay;

(12) motorcycle classroom education courses conducted outside of regular school hours;
provided the charge must not exceed the actual cost of these courses to the school district;

(13) transportation to and from postsecondary institutions for pupils enrolled under the
postsecondary enrollment options program under section 123B.88, subdivision 22. Fees
collected for this service must be reasonable and must be used to reduce the cost of operating
the route. Families who qualify for mileage reimbursement under section 124D.09,
subdivision 22, may use their state mileage reimbursement to pay this fee. If no fee is
charged, districts must allocate costs based on the number of pupils riding the route.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2024.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [124D.335] DRIVER EDUCATION GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Policy and purpose. new text end

new text begin It is the intent of the legislature to expand access
to driver education courses for low-income students in the state of Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Payments on behalf of students. new text end

new text begin A school district may enroll a student who
is at least 15 years of age and not more than 19 years of age in a driver education course
provided by the school district or other provider and pay a portion of the costs of enrollment
on behalf of the student. The school may pay the driver education provider $350 for each
student who qualifies for a free or reduced-price meal, and $150 for any other student. The
provider may charge a fee to the student for the remaining cost of the program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin School district reimbursement. new text end

new text begin Each year, the commissioner of education
must reimburse school districts for the total amounts paid by the district to driver education
program providers in the previous fiscal year. A school district must apply for reimbursement
in the form and manner required by the commissioner of education.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Annual appropriation. new text end

new text begin The amounts necessary for payment of driver education
aid to school districts under this section are annually appropriated from the general fund to
the commissioner of education.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2024.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin REPORT; DRIVER EDUCATION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Driver education work group. new text end

new text begin The commissioners of education, public
safety, and employment and economic development must form a work group to study driver
education availability in Minnesota. Each commissioner may name additional members to
the work group, including representatives of public and private driver education programs
and representatives of higher education institutions providing training for driver education
instructors. The commissioner of education must provide staff support and convene the first
meeting of the work group. The work group must study the availability of, and access to,
driver education courses in Minnesota; analyze the geographic availability of courses;
identify barriers for course participation for low-income students; and analyze potential
permanent funding sources to expand the availability of driver education opportunities.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The work group must prepare and submit a written report to the
committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over education, driver education, and drivers'
licenses by January 15, 2025. The report must describe the current status of driver education
courses in Minnesota and recommend changes to increase student access to driver education
courses. The report must also recommend a permanent funding mechanism to expand the
availability of driver education courses to Minnesota's low-income students.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund
to the commissioner of education for the activities of the driver education work group. This
is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2024.
new text end