HF 3995

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 05/09/2016 01:40pm

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 2014, 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 2014, 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, 2016.
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
$300 for each student who qualifies for free lunch, $200 for each student who qualifies for
reduced-price lunch, and $100 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

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
driver's licenses by February 1, 2017. 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 2017 is appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of education for the activities of the driver education work group.
new text end