HF 237 (LSB 1045YH (1) 88)

HOUSE FILE 237

BY  GASSMAN

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to special minor’s driver’s licenses for students attending accredited nonpublic schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.194, subsection 2, paragraph a, subparagraph (2), subparagraph divisions (a) and (b), Code 2019, are amended to read as follows:
   (a)  Over the most direct and accessible route between the licensee’s residence and schools of enrollment or the closest school bus stop or public transportation service, and between schools of enrollment, for the purpose of attending duly scheduled courses of instruction and extracurricular activities, provided the driving distance between the point of origin and the destination is no more than twenty-five fifty miles.
   (b)  Over the most direct and accessible route between the licensee’s residence or school of enrollment and a site, facility, or school that is not the licensee’s school of enrollment, for the purpose of participating in extracurricular activities conducted at a site, facility, or school designated by the licensee’s school of enrollment for the accommodation of the school’s extracurricular activities, provided the driving distance between the point of origin and the destination is no more than twenty-five fifty miles.
    Sec. 2.  Section 321.194, subsection 3, paragraph f, Code 2019, is amended to read as follows:
   f.  The driver’s license shall not be issued for purposes of attending an accredited nonpublic school if the driving distance between the school and the residence of the parent or guardian of the student is more than twenty-five fifty miles.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to operating restrictions on, and the issuance of, special minor’s driver’s licenses for students attending accredited nonpublic schools. Under Code section 321.194, a special minor’s driver’s license may be issued to a student between the ages of 14 and 18 years if the student’s school has certified to the department of transportation that the student has a special need for the license. A violation of Code section 321.194 is punishable by a scheduled fine of $50.
   OPERATING RESTRICTIONS. For students attending accredited nonpublic schools, Code section 321.194 currently limits students to operating motor vehicles during the hours of 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. over the most direct and accessible route between the student’s residence and schools of enrollment or the closest school bus stop or public transportation service, and between schools of enrollment, for the purpose of attending courses and extracurricular activities, and between the student’s residence or school of enrollment and a site, facility, or school that is not the student’s school, for the purpose of participating in extracurricular activities, provided the driving distance between the point of origin and the destination is no more than 25 miles. The bill increases this limitation to no more than 50 miles.
   LICENSE ISSUANCE. Code section 321.194 prohibits a special minor’s driver’s license from being issued to a student for purposes of attending an accredited nonpublic school if the driving distance between the school and the residence of the parent or guardian of the student is more than 25 miles. The bill increases this prohibition to more than 50 miles.