HF 2063 (LSB 5072YH (7) 88)

HOUSE FILE 2063

BY  BRINK

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to requirements for and restrictions on special minor’s driver’s licenses, and making penalties applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.194, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2020, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
   NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.  (03)  If the licensee is employed, the licensee may operate a motor vehicle during the hours of 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. over the most direct and accessible route between the licensee’s residence or school of enrollment and the licensee’s place of employment, provided the driving distance between the licensee’s place of employment and the nearest point on the route on which the licensee is authorized to travel under subparagraph (1), subparagraph division (a), or subparagraph (2), subparagraph division (a), is no more than fifteen miles.
    Sec. 2.  Section 321.194, subsection 2, paragraph a, subparagraph (3), Code 2020, is amended to read as follows:
   (3)  To a service station for the purpose of refueling, so long as the service station is the station closest to the route on which the licensee is traveling under subparagraph (1),  or (2), or (03).
    Sec. 3.  Section 321.194, subsection 3, paragraph b, Code 2020, is amended to read as follows:
   b.  Upon receipt of a statement of necessity, the department shall issue the driver’s license provided the applicant is otherwise eligible for issuance of the license. The fact that the applicant resides at a distance less than one mile from the applicant’s school of enrollment is prima facie evidence of the nonexistence of necessity for the issuance of a license.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   Under current law, a person holding a special minor’s driver’s license is allowed to operate a motor vehicle during the hours of 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. between the licensee’s residence, schools of enrollment, bus stops, and sites, facilities, or schools designated by the licensee’s district or school of enrollment for the accommodation of the school’s extracurricular activities, with certain limitations. This bill allows a person holding a special minor’s driver’s license who is employed to operate a motor vehicle during the hours of 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. to the licensee’s place of employment, so long as the driving distance between the licensee’s place of employment and the nearest point on an authorized route between the licensee’s residence and school of enrollment or the closest bus stop is no more than 15 miles. The bill also allows a licensee to operate a motor vehicle to a service station along the associated route.
   Under current law, an applicant for a special minor’s driver’s license is required to submit a certification from the applicant’s school stating that a need exists for the license. The fact that an applicant resides at a distance less than one mile from the applicant’s school of enrollment is prima facie evidence of the nonexistence of necessity for the issuance of the license. The bill strikes this exclusion. 
   A violation of Code section 321.194 is punishable by a scheduled fine of $50.